Harmony prenatal test - anyone know about it

[RTchoke]

today I am having a new kind of prenatal test called Harmony. It's non-invasive and seems to just be a new kind of blood test plus the regular nuchal scan but it's much more accurate than the traditional nuchal blood test. Apparently it's nearly as accurate as a CVS but without any risk.

I'm the only person I know who is having this test and nobody else seems to have heard of it let alone have been offered it. I just wondered if others have and knowledge of it and how accurate it is.

Good luck frog I hope you get a good outcome with the detailed scan.

It's good to know its still available for those who need it diege, good luck with your testing. I think you are right about why they do both (comparing results etc), but also because there are many other adnormalities that could be detected by the 12 week scan and bloods, other than the three common chromosomal problems that the Harmony test identifies.

That's right frog, I think you need to be under 11 weeks (or 10+x) to qualify.

Yes I've just called. It's only for between 10 and 10+6 people. :-(

Hopes were well and truly up then!!! Am even doubting the marker scan now..,,I'm so confused!

Cutting an extremely long story short (i apologise-ive put this on so many threads!!) am possibly in the position to consider harmony testing. I won't bore everyone with how/why and the details you've already read, but now I'm looking for opinions on this and if anyone has/knows of anyone who has had it. :-/

That sounds good progress frogchops - are you having it at the fmc?

Maybe, or the MUMS clinic is closer to me although is more expensive. My DP doesn't want to have it based in cost as he says we can cope with the risks of both downs and amnio if necessary. He's not me though, and I'm not sure I can.

I've had the harmony tests done frogchops, at the FMC. Brilliant. Expensive yes, but it put my mind at rest before I even had the results back, the scan was so thorough and reassuring. They checked for multiple markers and all looked good.

After an 11 day wait for results they came back at 1:100,000 for Downs and the other two trisomies.

Other than cost, which is certainlynconsiderale, what questions or concerns do you have?

*certainly considerable - gah!

I agree personally frogchops that the harmony is a better alternative on many levels than the amnio. I've got 5ds (currently pregnant with number 6) and have, in the course of my pregnancies pretty much had all types of tests, from amnio to nothing at all. Have also had my fair share of false positives from scans and blood tests. The Harmony is not without fault (5% failure rate) - and as one of the few who had a culture fail with my amnio,I know how frustrating being in that % can be, but fingers crossed my result from the harmony will be straight forward. Booked in for next weds at the fmc so will let you know how it goes!

I've had the Harmony test frog. I am in the slightly unfortunate position of being able to directly compare it to the CVS (which is of course similar to an Amnio).

In my first pregnancy I had a 1 in 3 risk of DS after NHS screening, the FMC rescanned and gave me the same risk score. I had a CVS as the Harmony test wasn't available (a few years ago). I found the CVS uncomfortable but not painful, I was however terrified of the miscarriage risk. We had already decided that we would continue with the pregnancy but I needed to know. Our baby did have DS, we continued with the pregnancy but sadly he died before term (completely unrelated to the CVS). I went with the flow and had the CVS before I had a chance to really consider the risks, I was much more informed in subsequent pregnancies.

I went on to have a healthy DD in my next pregnancy, FMC scan gave me a 1 in 2200 risk which I was delighted with, she is now 13 months old.

With this pregnancy I was given approx 1 in 550 risk by my NHS scan (which I was pleased with) but then 1 in 68 with FMC (soft markers). Personally, a 1 in 68 risk wasn't too bad, I certainly wouldn't have considered invasive testing but had the Harmony test as I felt I needed to know.

The Harmony test results came back with a less than 1 in 10,000 risk for each of the 3 tested chromosomal abnormalities, the wait was difficult but eliminating the misscarriage risk was worth it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I found this post a few days ago and it really helped to inform my choices after a 1 in 40 risk factor from the NHS for Downs. I went yesterday to the Fetal Medicine Centre for the Combined Test plus the Harmoney Test. As others have said there was a long wait (about 2.5 hours) but the reception warned us in advance so we went for dinner and then called a couple of times before coming back when our turn was up.

When I arrived bloods were taken and immediately analysed A little while later I was then scanned... and what a difference compared to the NHS. They look at absolutely everything. I had no idea there were so many soft markers that a first rate sonographer could look at to better assess your risk of Downs. And everything they did was checked and re-checked.

After putting this additional information into their risk assessment tool (e.g. presence of a nasal bone etc...) they then put my risk at 1 in 9072! My husband and I are thrilled. As mentioned by others the Prof we saw designed the combined test and is THE expert in his field. I have absolute confidence in his team compared to my NHS sonographer who struggled to get a nuchal measurement and then only took one measurement without re-checking (she measured 2.9 compared to the 2.2 which was checked and re-checked by the Fetal Medicine Centre).

We've now decided not to go for the Harmony Test. But if our result had been any higher then I think we would have still gone for it. The combined test was £180 and if we'd gone for the Harmony Test it would have been £400. I would say this is the best £180 we've ever spent. After the NHS we could hardly sleep for worry. I'd definitely recommend giving it a go and wish everyone out there who's got a high risk factor the best of luck in whatever they decide to do.

Thanks for your story Hovis, that's very encouraging. I have the combined booked myself and was wondering when they did the bloods on the day. Do they discuss the findings from the bloods before they scan? I am having the harmony 2 weeks earlier anyway as part of the £180 deal, so I am presuming the harmony results will take precedence anyway? (will be back by nuchal day) Must try not to worry of the harmony are 'good' and the nuchal and bloods not so...

Thankyou for your advice everyone....have booked my harmony. Local to me its £750 but im hoping money well spent.

Diege - best of luck with your tests. I had an evening appointment so they asked me to come at 5pm to get the bloods done before their lab closed. I then came back for the scan a couple of hours later. They did the scan & then at the end talked me through the final risk factor including the bloods. As you say the Harmony Test has a high percentage accuracy of over 99 percent compared to their combined which I think is 94 to 96 percent. So as you say that's probably the best guide. I really hope it goes well. I slept terribly before the scan & really feel for you as you wait. I really hope it goes ok.

Thanks Hovis . I have a history of false positives and soft markers on scans that have never come to anything, so the harmony does seem like a good idea and will put any other 'markers' that crop up say at 20 weeks into perspective. The downside of my history is that I get very very anxious before any sort of scan, so this will be a tough couple of weeks for me. I've made the decision to do this though, and will just have to try and keep as calm as possible.
ps: does anyone know if the FMC is in walking distance of Euston? Map seems to suggest yes, but I know they can sometimes be misleading...Receptionist has stressed I cannot be late for harmony (have to be there for opening of centre ; she fitted me in) otherwise the prof's other cases that morning will be delayed. Eeekkk!!!!

Hi ladies, this is my very first post :-)
But I wanted to add my experiences here as the information I have gained from this thread has been so influential on my actions in the last month!

Anyway, I am 11+2 with my second child and I am age 39. This was a totally unplanned pregnancy, but a very nice surprise!! I felt that I was a little on the old side and so have been worrying about the increased Down's risk, etc. Things have changed somewhat since my last pregnancy 8 years ago, so it was great to find out about all the new tests now available.

Having read this thread from start to finish, I decided I should get the Harmony test. At the point I made that decision, I was 8 weeks. As I live in the Outer Hebrides (!) choice of clinic was never going to be close. So I decided I would try to book for the FMC and hope I could also qualify for the 'deal' as this would partly offset the cost of 2 flights each way (twice)!

When I spoke to reception, they said (as I had also read on here) that to qualify for the deal I would need to be between 10 and 10+6 at the first scan. As I had not, nor was likely to get an early scan, I checked and rechecked my dates hoping I could get an appointment at the right time.

Well, last week, I arrived at the centre for my first scan. At that point, I was stressing firstly whether there would even be a baby there having previously had a mmc. The sonographer was a lovely lady and very thorough, explaining everything. Baby was there, happily bouncing around :-) and I measured 10+1 so could also go ahead with the Harmony side of things.

I am now half way through the long wait - my next appointment is on 8th April for the NT and Harmony result, so just hoping for the best now...

Strangely, I have my date for NHS NT scan on 3rd, so I don't know if that is good or bad? Good because I get to see baby again, it may give us a heads up if there is anything wrong, but also it may mean more worry...

So sorry for such a long first post! I just thought how much help other people's experiences have been to me and would like to help anyone else who is going through the same dilemmas xx

Hi takingachance . I was advised not to bother with the NHS scan at 12 weeks as it could potentially be contraditory based on the things they don't look for. I've cancelled mine, which is quite a relief really as will feel all scanned out by then! Good luck with your harmony results and nuchal. Did the sonographer you saw when having the harmony give any indication about how things were looking, or was it purely to date the pregnancy?

With nay a short time to wait in between scans, I'm sure if the nhs one did indicate any risk, you will feel relieved to know that your harmony scan is already in place. I had such a low last week, and am still feeling about my risk, but am so much better for knowing what I'm going to do and have the harmony booked....albeit it £750... But so far just for my well being, it's worth it. Am not looking forward to two weeks wait after test, but one bridge at a time!

Hi Diege - the sonographer just said things were looking fine, but she didn't comment specifically on any of the numerous measurements she took. It looked like she measured the nuchal fold and it's the one thing I nearly did ask her about, but then I thought that maybe it's too early anyway for this measurement to be meaningful.

I think, as you say frogchops, I will have the NHS scan anyway,as it won't be too long to wait then til the Harmony result. It's actually possible that the Harmony result will be in at the clinic by then anyway, as due to timings of when I can get to London, it is actually 2.5 weeks between my 2 FMC visits.
When I had my booking in with the midwife, I tried to explain the Harmony test, but she had never heard of it and she just kept saying it sounds the same as the blood test that is done at the NT scan so kind of feel like I should have the NHS NT scan done anyway so that I am not being a rebel!

The FMC said they would phone if there were any issues with my Harmony result - I assume that means that if it is a bad result they will phone but not if it is a good result. Perhaps I can phone the FMC if the NHS scan is bad...

I just feel so glad that the Harmony test is available for us to hopefully ease our minds or at least make the choice to have a CVS or amnio more informed. You are so right frog chops - the money spent is definitely worth it! I had thought that if my Harmony result is bad I would like to have a CVS done at the FMC as opposed to having to wait for one on the NHS. But I'll cross that bridge if I have to....

When are you guys having the Harmony test done?

Tuesday for harmony. I'm having it in Birmingham rather than London though as travel is a pain. Im so impressed with the people ive spoken to at the clinic so far though, and i havent even been yet! The feeling of 'what do I do' is awful after a high risk nhs scan, so the good thing is that you won't have this being as your harmony is booked. I'm 15 weeks now so out of the very good deal for 10 weekers bracket!!

Wednesday for harmony for me at FMC then back 2 weeks later for nuchal,bloods, and results.
I'll make sure I ask about getting results early or not by phone. I have a feeling they may ring early too if they can't extract the fetal dna which I know is a 5% risk of the test.

Also taking I had my nuchal measured at 10 weeks in my last pregnancy by sonographer as I was having a reassurance scan after a bleed. She looked because I asked, but said they never go by a nuchal at 10 weeks as it can change quite drastically up to the window they usually do the test, so I'll resist asking this time I think!

Oh, Diege I meant to say - I don't know if FMC is walking distance from Euston - I arrived at Paddington off the Heathrow Express and jumped in a black cab. I just gave them the address and they took me right to the door. There is no sign outside, just the number on the door so I'm glad I didn't try and find it myself! Taxi was £7 from Paddington and took about 10 mins at rush hour (0815), but as I don't know London at all, I can't help on whether Euston is closer!

I do know that FMC is a short (5min) walk from Oxford street - was loving visiting all the shops afterwards!

Thanks for the heads-up on the 'no sign' taking! I am actually staying overnight beforehand as couldn't bear the 5am train (plus terrified I would be late!). If it's by Oxford Street Ithink I should be ok walking but will my hotel very early to make sure I have lots of 'getting lost' time!