Harmony test at 10 weeks

[Rippedoffpissedoff]

Hi - id appreciate your thoughts and knowledge on this.

I’ve scheduled a harmony test at the FMC for when I’m 10 + 3 according to first date of my last period. I don’t know my exact cycle length.

I have two questions:

1. is the harmony as reliable at 10 weeks? I had my last at 16 weeks but I’m much older now and want the results as soon as possible. The FMC weirdly charge £100 less for tests carried out at 10 weeks as opposed to tests carried out at 11 - I can’t work out why this would be, unless they’re somehow less reliable?

2. because I don’t know my exact cycle length is it stupid to have booked at what I think is 10+3? Would that change dramatically based on cycle length, even though I know the first day of last period AND the only time I can have conceived (because DH was otherwise away)? Apparently if I’m not as far in as I think then they’ll charge me for the ultrasound and send me away. This would be really annoying.

The appointment is just days away - should I change it to 11 or more weeks? :(

Anyone?

I would phone them and ask. More likely to get ann answer from them that's correct than on here

Okay thanks. But since they’re charging £100 more to have it at 11 weeks assume they’d err on the side of persuading me to delay? They’re also a business after all. So I’m interested in what other people may know, from experiences of their own.

Depends how ethical they are. Tbh the questions in your first post are more technical so for the company to answer rather than asking for opinions hence my suggesting phoning them

It is still accurate as long as there is a high enough amount of fetal DNA found. The "fetal fraction" should be over 4%, and by 10 weeks it usually is. I had mine at 10+5 and fetal fraction was 10%.

If the ff is to low they will let you know a d run the test again at a later date.

I'm guessing it's nor expensive later on as that's when most people want it ie after a dodgy looking 12 week scan

I had Harmony testing at FMC. They were superb. I suspect the reason it is cheaper earlier is because the scan you get included is the nuchal scan, not the anomaly scan after 16 or so weeks, which is more involved? There is no difference in accuracy that I can see in the data on harmony, they either get enough fetal dna or they don't, as there is no variation in result accuracy given. I'm not medical though, just read around a bit. I ended up having mine at 10w3d and clear results were back within a week. I would call as they are very good at explaining things.

Also - I don't think they would charge you and send you away. They'll date the pregnancy and ask you to come back when it's ten weeks, I'd have thought since they do the dating they don't need to then do it again as they'd trust their own sonographers! You can book the nuchal scan in as late as 13w5d by the way, so you get two scans reasonably far apart. There was a big difference in the two for me. It was worth the money for the peace of mind but actually the extra scan was lovely too. Much more informative than the NHS one.

It’s reliable from 10 weeks. Had mine done at 10+2. They scan you first to date the pregnancy and if it measures 10 weeks or more, they’ll do the blood test. If not, they’ll ask you to come back when you’re 10 weeks.

No idea why they charge less. The clinic I used had the same price, but if you were 11+ weeks they would also do a 4D scan. Maybe that’s why?

The FMC are excellent. I was 10+3 by early scan dates but measured 11+1 on the day and was still charged only the £400. Had an incredibly detailed nuchal scan 2 weeks later also.