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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 · 27/02/2014 18:25

It's definitely worthwhile! I mean, chances are all is good, but if you have a situation like I did, you'll be eternally grateful you did. I was told my NT screening was 1 in 5.. but I had that news AFTER having the negative Harmony. If it has been the other way round it would have been a horrendous two week wait for Harmony results!

And yes - good excuse for a visit to London Grin

jessplussomeonenew · 27/02/2014 19:44

I agree with crispy that it's a much better way round to get the results. I did it the other way round and only got Harmony done after getting high risk results. I'm 4 days into that two week wait now (NT gave high risk of Edwards) and it feels like an eternity still to go - I keep telling myself there's 98% chance that it's all ok, but I still can't seem to shake this horrible limbo-ish feeling which I wouldn't wish on anyone!

ohthegoats · 27/02/2014 20:15

They do Saturdays, however, their lab is not open, so they can't do the bloods on that day.

I've got an appointment on 8th March for the Harmony test - it's a Saturday. They didn't say anything about the lab not being open. Eek.

Sneezecakesmum · 27/02/2014 20:27

Harmony is available here

www.thisismy.co.uk/non-invasive-prenatal-testing-nipt/

We opted for the cheaper version as the stats were still impressive and also for the additional scan for risk of pre eclampsia. That proved positive so aspirin was taken throughout the pg.

Result: healthy boy Smile

Mabelandmaude · 27/02/2014 21:07

You don't have to pay anything of they discover the pregnancy is not viable.

Heks · 27/02/2014 21:24

I did the harmony test at 10 weeks then went back for the test results and 12 week scan at FMC on Harley street. Just missed the 10week + 6 day cut off as they go off measurements and not your dates. Paid £500.

I wasn't that impressed with the 12 week scan. We had the NHS one a few days before and it was excellent. Big TV screen, great photos. The one at FMC was long and uncomfortable and she didn't really talk to us and complained the baby was curled up. She kept asking for the data from the NHS scan.

I think a blood test only would be my preference if I was to do this again.

ohthegoats · 27/02/2014 21:38

It costs more at the moment to do just the 10 week + Harmony, than it does the 10 week + Harmony + 12 week (absurd). So I just went for that. I've not booked a 12 week NHS one, since I figure I won't need it. I think probably that experiences with sonographers are positive and negative in both private and NHS hospitals, it's all down to the individual situation.

Mabelandmaude · 27/02/2014 21:53

As far as my overall experience, I was not blown away by the staff. I was kept waiting for over an hour with no warning or apology when finally seen. The doctor was cold and unfriendly. There was very little information, I was just handed the result on paper to interpret myself.

For me, it was still money well spent. I didn't bother with the Nuchal on the NHS. I didn't want to risk getting a high risk result and then not trusting the harmony after spending £400 on it.

I have found the nhs staff to be far more informative and friendly. I'm fly aware you get good staff and bad staff everywhere. It just seems more surprising when paying to go private.

JBrd · 28/02/2014 10:34

goats I would ask them about you having the blood test on a Saturday - I specifically wanted to know because going in on a Saturday would be preferable to me, as I wouldn't have to take time off work. But the lady I spoke to definitely said that they can't do bloods on a Saturday because their lab is closed.

Mabel Again, I did specifically ask what they charge when they do not find a viable pregnancy when they do the first scan - she said, in that case, you only pay for the scan as such, which is £100. Maybe this has changed recently?

I hadn't even thought about the order of things, but if anything, this has made me even more sure that I would like the test. My hospital can be very slow. I'm booked in for the nuchal scan when I'll be 12+3, and then it can take sometimes up to 10-14 days until you get the combined risk results - which would push me well over the limit for being able to have the Harmony, I think.
Plus, it would probably be far less stressful to have the Harmony first, and stress really isn't something that I need more of in this pregnancy!

jessplussomeonenew · 28/02/2014 11:11

JB,I don't think there's a time limit on the Harmony test (though it's cheaper at FMC if you do it at 10 weeks) - if it's too late for the nuchal they do anomaly scans. We got the results of our NHS nuchal after 2 days (they give high risk results more quickly). But it's definitely stressful to wait 2 weeks for Harmony results when you know you've had a high risk result from a less accurate test.

gunwalloe · 28/02/2014 14:46

Has anyone been and found there under 10 weeks? What would happen could they still draw the blood?

ohthegoats · 28/02/2014 21:06

JBrd - that's weird. Mine was all done via email. I told them I was a teacher, and needed to do a Saturday, to which they just sent back all the details. I've just read all the attachments, and there is no mention of not taking bloods on Saturdays. I'll give them a ring tomorrow.

Beetsarebisgusting · 28/02/2014 23:05

A Saturday appt is fine, they don't do the bloods on site anyway, which is why you have to wait 2 weeks.

If you are less than 10 weeks pregnant the baby won't be big enough and there won't be the necessary level of the baby's DNA in your blood so there is no point in doing the test early. They recommend you are at least 10+1.

If there is no baby when they scan or there is a mmc they don't seem to charge, it might depend on whether you've already had a scan there before.

gunwalloe · 02/03/2014 14:40

Hi Just wanted to check if the FMC tell you the sex of the baby if you want to know?

CrispyFB · 02/03/2014 17:13

Yes, they definitely do if you ask when the blood is drawn. They charge an extra £10.

gunwalloe · 02/03/2014 17:40

Thanks crispy I was sure I had read that they did and then I found some old threads that said they didn't so confused myself.
Do they use blood from the 10 week appointment to test for the nuchal as well as the harmony or will I get another blood test when the nuchals done?
Im looking forward to seeing the little one tomorrow again.

CrispyFB · 02/03/2014 22:10

They take three vials I think at the the appointment - or is it four? Anyway, yes, the blood they take covers both the NT screening and the Harmony test, so it's all ready and waiting when you have the NT scan itself two weeks later!

Hope all goes well tomorrow!!

Caterinas2014 · 03/03/2014 09:43

They don't charge an extra 10£ anymore for the gender determination.

CrispyFB · 03/03/2014 10:49

That's good to hear! I had mine done, crikey, it must have been six months ago now. It always felt like a "token" payment as I'm guessing the lab charged no extra.

gunwalloe · 03/03/2014 17:01

Home from my visit to the FMC
Loved the staff all were friendly and had a lovely hot chocolate from there machine.
Unfortunately baby is only measuring 9-4 so they couldn't do the harmony my dates have been pushed a whole week back :( So I'm back next week for another scan and then the blood test. I had to have a internal scan but the images were incredible we could see arms and legs waving about and it now looks like a baby. :)

CrispyFB · 03/03/2014 17:09

Heh yep, you don't get drinks machines like that one on the NHS! Grin Then again it's not like NHS scans cost anything. But still - it's the little things!!

Sorry to hear you got pushed back a week - frustrating! Pure curiosity (and possibly of use to lurkers) - are they charging you extra as you're still too early?

gunwalloe · 03/03/2014 17:20

Yes I had to pay for the scan £100 and then next week £400 :(
I'm not to upset though it was a lovely scan and we have great images of the little un

JBrd · 04/03/2014 10:34

gun I'm a bit Shock that they made you pay for the scan - I would have thought that this should be part of the package?! Did they not confirm with you that you were 10 weeks when you booked it? If you were by your calculations, but the measurements didn't match, that is hardly your fault! Quite cheeky, really.

Ah well, I have just booked the package, will be going there next Tuesday for the first part. The waiting begins...

gunwalloe · 04/03/2014 10:59

jbrd they had tried to get me in when my dates by lmp were exactly 10 days but I pushed it back just incase but sadly not enough.
After the scan I thought I would just go in for the blood test next week but they want to do another scan I suppose to check the littleun is still fighting fit.
Good luck on Tuesday how far along are you?

CrispyFB · 04/03/2014 19:11

That does seem a bit cheeky, I agree!