Pregnant age 46 CVS testing Lancashire?

[DollyDog]

Hi
I've just found out I'm pregnant, about 6 weeks. I'm going to wait a couple more weeks before going to the doctors in case I have a mc between now and then. Quite probable given my age.
I have 2 children, my youngest with ivf. I've had 2 miscarriages previously.
Just in case this pregnancy progresses, I intend to go to the docs and ask to go for an early scan, a previous mc I got to 12 weeks to see only a sac no foetus so I don't want to wait to find the same this time. If there is a viable pregnancy I want to have a CVS test at the earliest opportunity, I think it can be done from 11 weeks.
I don't have any family history of the disorders cvs can be used to test for but clearly downs would be a real risk given my age. I'm not sure if CVS is available on the NHS given my age in Lancashire but I'd like to pay to have it done privately if not.
Does anybody know where I could have this done in Lancashire and how I would go about selecting a clinic who are trustworthy (very good at doing it to keep risks of mc to a minimum)?

Thank you in advance

You may be offered a CVS on the NHS due to your age but only Royal Bolton and St. Mary's in Manchester do CVS on the NHS.
Privately I would go to one of the consultants that also works at the fetal medicine unit at St. Mary's. Dr. Bullen does CVS privately in Manchester and also offers the harmony none invasive test www.bridgewaterhospital.com/treatments/pregnancy-clinic.html
Dr chan works at the shire hospital and also offers CVS www.spirehealthcare.com/manchester/our-facilities-treatments-and-consultants/our-consultants/mr-koon-loong-chan/

Hi essexgirlupnorth I can't thank you enough for that info. I have looked up Dr Bullen and this looks a very good option for me. I was also really interested to read more about the harmony test you mentioned. This seems a good option also and I wasn't aware of it, but id like to know more I guess about how accurate a low probability result is. I appreciate an invasive test is still required if a high probability results.
Can I ask why you are so knowledgeable, do you work in the industry or have you learnt from personal experience?
Thanks again??

Yes I work in the industry but in the NHS. Not sure about the risks with a low probability harmony test result but is something I would consider having done with my next pregnancy.
Glad you found the info helpful.

A low risk Harmony result is 1 in 10,000.

I had a 1 in 5 NT screening and a low risk Harmony result at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London, who pioneered the NT screening many years ago and contributed to research for Harmony and similar tests. They told me I could rely completely on the low risk Harmony result and sure enough DD (now 7 months) has typical chromosomes.

False negatives are extremely rare, false positives happen occasionally but that's what invasive testing is for.

CrispyFB that's very reassuring, thank you. I have done some ringing around this morning to get some prices. There is now also a blood test called NIFTY which is the same as Harmony apparently but the bloods are sent to Hong Kong instead of California. Slightly quicker and cheaper but just as accurate, or so I was told.
Such a shame they don't test here in the UK instead of having to send the blood so far, but expect they will sometime in the future. Great stats though, and think I will definitely follow this path if my pregnancy continues to the 10 week point when I can have the test done.

Many thanks for the info, really appreciate that.

NIFTY is a very good alternative option - just as reliable and usually cheaper so if you can get it then go for it!

The NHS is starting to trial Harmony at a few London hospitals with a view to rolling it out everywhere.. I can only assume that if that happens they'd have a UK facility for testing so it would be quicker. Unless there's some stupid licensing issue that still means sending it overseas.. let's hope not!

I waited it out in 2011 as I couldn't bear to do invasive testing despite a 1 in 34 - back then only ladies in the US had MaterniT21 (yet another one!) and only a few could access it even then. I was so so glad we could get Harmony this time around - it's wonderful that there are now more choices, albeit expensive ones, but at least it's there.

Good luck with your pregnancy!! Those first few weeks pass soooooo slowly!