Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Antenatal tests

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Original poster

Harmony prenatal test - anyone know about it

830 replies

RTchoke · 29/10/2012 05:41

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.

OP posts:
CrispyFB · 19/02/2014 12:47

MainlyGuesswork - I am sorry to hear your news. I'm assuming it was high risk for Down Syndrome? I have anecdotally heard people say that false positives are more common than the official statistics indicate, so hang onto that.

As you're having the NT scan as well as the CVS if there is an issue there's a very good chance it will be visible on ultrasound by this point. So you may have a better idea of the result before the results are back.

Despite being anti-invasive testing in general (for me, not for anyone else as we all have different feelings about risk!) for a positive Harmony I would too. Even though I personally think I would not terminate (again, we're all different) it's the whole need to know thing and the higher the chances, the more I need to know!

Would be interesting to see if they give you a result based on your NT screening when it's done and how those odds compare.

It is interesting that the FMC called you for a positive result. I think those of us with negative results only found out at the appointment for the NT screening.

I hope the CVS goes as well as it can do, and it is a false positive. I am really sorry you are having to deal with this worry.

MainlyGuesswork · 20/02/2014 10:07

Hi - thank you.

There were all sorts of other markers seen on the NT scan, as well as the NT itself being v high at 5.1mm. Based on the previous bloodwork + NT results I came out with a 1/2 risk for T21 and 1/25 risk for T13/18.

So yes it seemed to make sense to go ahead with CVS, which was absolutely fine, just a wee bit bruised after. I get results tomorrow pm but I think everyone is expecting this to just be a confirmation now.

I think they call you with positive results because they want to get you in on a Wednesday when the professor is there - otherwise we weren't due in until Saturday but they brought our appt forward so that we would be seen by him - I'm not sure if any other of the doctors there do CVS but he is certainly seen as the maestro.

Feeling pretty resigned about it now - ho hum. For us this is just the latest in a long line of difficulties trying to have a family, so in some ways I think I am a little desensitized by now, though I'm sure it's all going to hit me properly at some point.

CrispyFB · 20/02/2014 17:58

Ouch - yes, it doesn't sound good with the ultrasound Sad Stranger things have happened of course, and this board has had plenty of very unexpected happy results along the way, I sincerely hope you get to join them.

I'm glad you got the professor to do the CVS - couldn't be in better hands! It sounds like you've had such an incredible run of rotten luck, I am so sorry. It's about time life gave you a break. It's not supposed to be this tough to have a family!

Tranquilitybaby · 21/02/2014 00:39

Thinking of you tomorrow when you get your results xxx

MainlyGuesswork · 21/02/2014 15:48

T21 confirmed. So just goes to show the Harmony test + combined screening tests are pretty reliable.

Now to deal with the fallout. Feel sort of relieved just to know for sure though.

CrispyFB · 21/02/2014 19:43

I'm sorry your results weren't what you wanted. Wishing you lots of strength over the next few days and of course in the future too, whatever you decide to do Thanks

jessplussomeonenew · 21/02/2014 21:06

Hi there, hope it's ok to leap in with a question. This morning we were given 1 in 58 risk of Downs and 1 in 93 of Edwards/Patau following NT bloods. Normal NT and HCG but very low Papp-A (0.176) and my age is 37. I'd prefer to avoid invasive tests, especially as they don't seem to do CVS much at this hospital, so Harmony or one of the related tests seems like the best option. I could do London so was thinking FMC. Southampton is closer - however this thread is the only place where I've heard that it is an option. Would welcome any advice on where to go and things to think about.

CrispyFB · 21/02/2014 23:14

Given Harmony gets sent off to the same lab in the US, I'd go for whatever is the cheaper option out of Southampton or FMC as the prices can vary quite a bit!

If, however, you want the reassurance of probably the best scan you can get at 12 weeks in this country, then pick the FMC.

Good luck!

ohthegoats · 22/02/2014 17:55

I've been looking at different options, and for my timings, the FMC is significantly cheaper than anything around here.

My midwife recommended a place local to Oxford, where the test alone is £750, I found another for £595. FMC will do test + 12 week scan for £400. Even with train tickets, it seems a no brainer. Also, we can have a nice day out in London to try and take the edge off a bad result/enjoy a good result - for both really, but mainly for me at the moment, viability - I'm unable to get excited about this until I know it's a viable pregnancy, even though I know that it's only the first stage of scan worry etc.

bebemad · 24/02/2014 19:47

Hi does anyone know the accuracy of the harmony test with twins I am pregnant with identical twins so they would each have the same dna. My nt measurements were 0.8 and 1.3 and my harmony test came back at 1:10,000 so 0.01% in all three but I cannot seem to stop worrying about a false negative. Any advice would be great, thank you.

Caterinas2014 · 24/02/2014 21:38

Hello,

I'll have my Harmony this wednesday. It's a part of "10 weeks package" in the FMC.

This is my second pregnancy. With the first one everything was fine, I got a very healthy baby boy. My risks after NT+blood screening (NHS) were very low (1:4000). NT measured 1.7. But I had a very tough time to make a decision to make this screening or not, because as far as eveybody knows, it's not an accurate one.

With this pregnancy I worry about everything and having a hard time thinking about all this again. And I decided to go for the Harmony test now, at 10 weeks, so I would not worry if I receive high risks from the NHS.

Wish me luck!

P.S. English is not my native language, I'm sorry for possible mistakesBlush.

Caterinas2014 · 24/02/2014 21:47

Bebemad,

Harmony test is suitable for twins if conceived naturally.With NT measurements as perfect as 0.8 and 1.7 together with Harmony I guess you will be just fine. I wouldn't worry at all!

gunwalloe · 25/02/2014 17:45

Im going to have the harmony test on Monday as im 35 this pregnancy and am feeling anxious. Are there scanners better than hospital ones? I had a 7.5 week scan and due to extra layers I had to have a internal scan just wondering if anyone having a 10 week scan at the FMC had to have a internal one? Also probably a stupid question but do they give you pictures from the scans?

eurochick · 25/02/2014 17:47

I had my first external scans at the FMC (although no extra layers issue here). You didn't need a full bladder for them, and the machines seemed very good. We got pictures from both the 10 and 12 week scans at the FMC. :)

gunwalloe · 25/02/2014 17:53

Thank you eurochick

CrispyFB · 25/02/2014 18:59

The scanners ARE generally better (obviously it depends on the hospital - some hospitals have just as good scanners!) but until about 12 weeks there's little extra they could see that a fairly decent hospital scanner couldn't.

The real advantage to a decent scanner comes at 12 weeks plus when they look at the anatomy and it's big enough to be seen with a very good machine.

Then of course the fact that you have a research doctor doing your scan who is not only an expert sonographer, but there is little they don't know about the scan (and if they don't know, there is always somebody they can go and ask!) The brains in that place are astounding. I always treat the person doing the scanner as a human input to Google/research paper libraries Grin No mucking around with search engines and trying to work out what the results mean - the person doing the scan can answer any question you have. Some of the time they've contributed to a relevant research paper too. For a geek like me, it's brilliant!

That's not to say regular NHS sonographers are daft or anything, they're most definitely (usually!!) not and most are lovely - but they usually only do the bare minimum due to resource constraints, and a lot of the time they're not allowed to say anything, or if they are, they're usually not at the cutting edge of research like the FMC has. On several occasions I've been told bad information, or patronised, or not believed over dates etc. Never been treated like that at the FMC - I've always been treated as an equal and they've taken my word over things, answered every question, given information I'd never think to have asked in the first place and anything they've told me I didn't know, I've looked up when I've got home and they've always been 100% right.

CrispyFB · 25/02/2014 19:00

PS I'd have thought at 10 weeks it would be external regardless, especially if you don't have an empty bladder.

gunwalloe · 25/02/2014 20:24

that's great to know CrispyFB im sure I will be reassured by what they tell me hopefully all good news

CrispyFB · 25/02/2014 22:09

I hope so too! Lots of luck - I know how scary any scan can be, even if you've had good ones beforehand (like you have) and statistics are very much on your side!

gunwalloe · 25/02/2014 23:19

Thank you :)

I forgot to ask have others that have had the harmony and nuchal at the FMC also had the NHS one to? I had asked my midwife (who hadn't heard of the harmony test) and she said to get the NHS one done to but I don't want to have lots of scans that aren't needed.

jessplussomeonenew · 26/02/2014 08:39

I had the NHS one first and went to FMC because of the results and to get the Harmony test. There's no clinical reason for you to have the NHS one as we but I've heard some people say the NHS can be funny if you go privately. FMC do a report which you can give to your normal care team which gives them the results. The FMC scan was longer and much more detailed, looking at blood flow and measuring things like the size of the different chambers of the heart, which was amazing!

CrispyFB · 26/02/2014 08:59

I didn't have the NHS one this time as there was no point as I knew beforehand I was going to the FMC. Not that I could have got one anyway, thanks to my GP being so bloody crap and not referring me despite me chasing them up three times Hmm

I did last time round, in fact it's how I found out about the FMC when I got a 1 in 60 at my NHS screening. FMC took it down to 1 in 34, not what I wanted!! But I actually felt more reassured due to the detail of the scan.

JBrd · 26/02/2014 16:14

Hi there, I have a question regarding the combined viability+Harmony+nuchal testing at the FMC - does anyone know how much you need to pay if you go in at 10 weeks, and they find no viable pregnancy? I'm assuming that they scan you before taking blood for the Harmony test... And that they wouldn't make you pay the whole package if they find a mmc?!

I'm 8+3 today and have had 3 miscarriages last year, so have to consider that it might not work out again. But had a good scan a few days ago, so very hopeful! However, being 42 certainly increases my risks for pretty much everything that can possibly go wrong, and even though it costs so much, I'm seriously considering having the Harmony test.
Also, does anyone know how long in advance you need to book? And how easy/difficult it is to get an appointment on a Saturday?

CrispyFB · 26/02/2014 20:06

I would suggest giving them a ring as their offers often change. I think it's currently £400 including NT screening too, but I wouldn't bet my life on that!

Definitely call to make an appointment sooner rather than later as they fill up quite quickly. No idea if they do Saturdays, but I know they're often there quite late into the evenings.

And yes, they do a viability scan before taking the blood!

Good luck!

JBrd · 27/02/2014 15:46

Thanks, Crispy. Just talked to the FMC - they won't make you pay for the whole package if they find no viable pregnancy, in that case you just pay for the scan (£100).
They do Saturdays, however, their lab is not open, so they can't do the bloods on that day. So for the 10-week appointment, it would have to be a weekday. I wouldn't mind a half day/day in London Smile.

Now all I need to do is convince DH that this is necessary...