Harmony Test

[Starlive22]

Just looking for anyone's expertise with this, good or bad, particularly later on in pregnancy. Is there any NIPT test that anyone recommends or any specific type? Looking at having one on Tuesday and I'm 29 weeks gestation.

Many thanks in advance!

[Starlive22]

Oh and particularly if anyone had any false positive or negatives or if it caused any unnecessary hassle? I know the early combined screening seems to be a little inaccurate (just from my looking at forums) but heard that the private NIPT test is more accurate?

Any advice or hand holding would be very very appreciated.

[eurochick]

I had the Harmony test at 10 weeks at the FMC. I've nothing bad to say about it. I wanted the relative certainty and got it.

[notWORKzilla]

I’ve had the Harmony and Panorama (two different pregnancies). Both around 10 weeks gestation. They were both accurate and very straight forward. I’ve no idea whether they’re as accurate in later pregnancy.
Might be an idea to call a clinic that provides them and they can talk you through it?

[Starlive22]

Thanks both, have heard good things but always nice to hear actual experiences from people who have had the test x

[PinkAvocado]

I had the Panorama test purely because it could be done earlier. If I was at your gestation, I’d have the Harmony as the result turn around is quicker as it gets done in the UK (Panorama test is sent off to America).

[Starlive22]

@PinkAvocado i think this Harmony one goes to America too 🙁 the wait time is 2 weeks, would love to find one which tells you sooner

[PinkAvocado]

Are you in the UK? I’m sure Harmony goes just to London now. If not, look for another clinic as most do. Panorama goes to America. At the place I went to, the Harmony had the quickest turnaround or the two-up to 7 working days but lots of people find out quicker than the 7 day quoted time.

[Starlive22]

I'm in Wales! The only place I can find that does it near me does send it to America, the receptionist I spoke to said that's why it takes 2 weeks to come back.

It sounds totally crazy but a tiny part of me feels like if I do this test it will somehow make it more likely she has this T18...I know the rational side of me is just wondering why I've gone nuts...but the rational side of me has been largely absent during this pregnancy 😔

[PinkAvocado]

I’m the same. Whenever I’m rested for something, I spend the next week convincing myself I will have it!

If you decide to have it, I’d go to a different clinic as they don’t need to send them off to the US and it’d be more waiting for you.

[Starlive22]

Glad it's not just me! I feel like my mind is my worst enemy sometimes. I'm a bit out in the sticks so this is the only one I can get to, although she did say sometimes they come back earlier so I guess that's something!

[Bluefargo]

I had the harmony test. Bear in mind it’s a risk assessment not a diagnostic test. However it is fairly accurate for Edwards, downs and petau syndromes. But an amnio is diagnostic and is recommended if you were to make a decision based on an harmony result.

It is not accurate for turner, triple x and (I think) XYY (can’t remember the name for that right now). I believe this is due to the possibility of maternal cells in the test, plus placental cells can have an anapleuoidy where the fetus does not so that can skew the result. Basically I’d advise not finding out the results of the sex anapleuoidy tests. It caused quite a bit of stress in my pregnancy and then it transpired that the baby did not have the syndrome.

[Starlive22]

Hi @Bluefargo so you ended up with a false positive from the Harmony test? Good to hear of all experiences good and bad so I appreciate your reply.

I'm already nearly 30 weeks in, I really only want it for Edwards and Downs but if I'm right you are saying there are a few Syndromes it's not very accurate with?

[Starlive22]

Just to clarify it obviously wouldn't change anything for me at this late stage it's just for reassurance as something has flagged up later x

[Bluefargo]

Well the harmony doesn’t give a positive or negatives but the low risk result would be 0.0001% chance result. The high risk result is 99%

We had a 38% likelihood for Triple X syndrome (extra X chromosome). Not awful odds but terrible when compared with 1 in 10,000.

The calculation was based on the fact that they detected XXX cells in the sample but could not tell if they were from me, the placenta or the fetus.

We had to wait til my DD was born to have her chord blood tested. We didn’t want to do the amnio as the syndrome can be very mild so it wasn’t worth the risk of amnio.

Chord Blood test came back clear but the pediatrician said that blood testing wasn’t conclusive and wanted more bloods / tests run but to be honest by that stage I loved her and couldn’t take the stress of any more tests and we agreed we’d just review if she had any developmental delays (which she hasn’t)

Overall was delighted to have harmony as was 40 and worried about the 3 main syndromes (Downs, Petau and Edwards) so it did put my mind at rest for those concerns but would recommend avoiding the stress of the uncertainty sex anapleuoidy tests. I believe you can just ask for them not to test for that. Although you may not be able to find out the sex in that case.

Personally I don’t think the test is developed enough for the sex anapleuoidies and should not have been approved for those syndromes. The syndromes I refer to are triple x, turners syndrome and kleinfelter syndrome.

[Bluefargo]

Sorry for essay!! - if you just want it to check for Downs or Edwards syndrome then go for it.

I think the ‘false positive’ rate is very low for those syndromes.

Keeping my fingers crossed you get the reassurance you wish for.

[Starlive22]

@Bluefargo no no the essay was great!! Very helpful thank you. I'm going to do it anyway but I just wanted a bit more info as some of the sites are a bit ambiguous and so just wanted to hear some impartial advice.

It sounds like a nightmare, you must have spent the whole pregnancy so worried. I think sometimes you can know too much nowadays, at least that's how it feels sometimes. It's great when they help but the unnecessary stress it can cause isn't fair.

Thanks again!