NIPT

[Dorho]

I'm now 8 weeks+4 single pregnancy and start thinking about doing NIPT in week 10. There're lots of option and they all look the same to me Please can I have some advice?

-Harmony
-Panorama
-SAFE
-Nifty
-IONA

Have anyone tried one of these before? Any good or bad things about it?

Many thanks

Are you being offered one through your local Hospital @Dorho?

I wouldn’t spend any money on this unless you have a strong reason to? It’s included on the NHS screening service now if you’re at a high risk of anything.

I had Panorama with my second, just because it was standard at my doctors office in the US. My understanding is that it tests for a few more rare genetic things than Harmony and it can be done slightly earlier, but bloods have to go to the US so it can take longer to get the results if you’re in the U.K.. You can find out the sex with both. My experience was definitely positive with Panorama. My friend had IONA and the sex was included with the results even though they’d asked for it to be hidden so she was quite annoyed about that but obviously knowing it’s a healthy baby prevails. I’ve never heard of the others you mention.

I booked a NIPT test (can’t remember which) with my last pregnancy, but at my viability scan I discovered I was having twins.

Sonographer recommended I have the Panorama test as it tests for fraternal/ID and also sex for both babies. The results were accurate although it took a while to come back (over 2 weeks).

A decent clinic should be able to recommend which test will suit your needs best.

Thanks for all the comments
Considering my age(36 now), combined test might put me as high risk yet the accuracy of the test is just 75-90%, while NIPT is 90-99%
I don't mind spending money to have some reassurance as there's a lot of things to deal with during the pregnancy

Thanks for all the comments Considering my age(36 now), combined test might put me as high risk yet the accuracy of the test is just 75-90%, while NIPT is 90-99%

I don't mind spending money to have some reassurance as there's a lot of things to deal with during the pregnancy

I had my first at 36. I think that if you have the money and have talked through with your DH the likely outcomes, then it seems like a sensible idea

We've just done the Harmony. I'm 12 weeks now and it came back low risk, so I feel a lot better going into my 12-week scan. Plus, I now know she's a little girl, so I can visualise her a bit more. Ours was £400.

The IONA or SAFE results (I think they are the same company?) tend to come back quickest as they are processed in the UK - my IONA results came back within 2 working days as I tested with "MyBabyCompany" in Manchester where the lab is. IONA/SAFE is also supposed to have the lowest redraw rate of the providers (when you have to have bloods taken again a week or two later if there isn't enough Foetal DNA in your sample).

I don't know about Nifty but I read Panorama is the best for twin pregnancies and Harmony is the biggest brand name so tends to be the most widely available test. But all the brand names are about equal for accuracy for Down's, Edward's and Patau's only (about 97% to 99%, so more than the standard NHS combined test - but they aren't anywhere near as accurate for other chromosomal conditions). It's mainly price/location/how quickly you want the results that depends on which provider to go for.

Apparently some NHS Hospitals will let you pay for the test if you aren't eligible on the NHS (or you don't want to wait till at least 12- 14 weeks gestation when you've had the results of your combined test). This might be cheaper than private companies but I'm not sure how long the results take and most won't tell you the sex of your baby if you are wanting to know that too (all the private NIPT providers will if you tick the box - but you don't have to).

I am (now) 39, was 38 at the time I chose to have a nipt.

I decided to opt out of the combined nhs screening and pay privately for a nipt. Due to my age alone I knew my risk score from the nhs screening would put me in the high risk category and I’d end up being referred for further testing anyway, so by opting out and going straight for the nipt, it cut that waiting time. My midwife agreed it was the best thing to do and advised the nipt was way more accurate than the nhs testing.

I had a harmony test done at 11+5 which unfortunately returned an inconclusive result. The whole experience with the company that performed the scan and test were appealing though. I had that done through ultrasound direct. The scan was so rushed, they didn’t look at any of baby’s anatomy, simply a quick 2 minute (if that) scan that was basically a ‘oh look at cute little baby’. Followed by a blood test. I got the results 6 days later and was told over the phone it was inconclusive. They were so unhelpful.

I decided then to look into alternative tests and came across information about the SAFE test. I went at 12+4 to have that carried out at The birth company on Harley street. They were incredible from start to finish. The scan was so detailed and thorough. Done by a consultant who looked in so much detail at everything. Showed us the blood flow to and from baby, showed us all measurements and talked us through everything she saw. Everything looked great from the scan and then I had the blood taken.

Exactly 7 days later I got a call to say my risk had come back the lowest for that type of test. 1:100,000 for all trisomies, and we’d opted to find out the sex and found out we were expecting a boy.

I had my baby nearly 9 weeks ago and he is simply perfect. Having had the test carried out it really did put my mind at ease for the pregnancy.

I would 100% recommend the SAFE test to anyone. The other buoy’s require a sample of 4% Fetal free dna from your blood sample, whereas the SAFE requires only 2%. Thus makes it the test of choice for women who are older or who have a higher bmi.

@Moominmiss. Sorry to hear of your stressful experience, it’s already stressful enough without getting an inconclusive result. Congratulations on your baby boy!

Just out of interest I also had the NIPT harmony test with ultrasound direct and had the complete opposite experience… the sonographer could not have been nicer - she measured the Nucal fluid, heart rate, blood flow through placenta and checked all anatomy and spent at least 20mins having a really good look at everything. I was 11+3 when I had the test and fortunately for me got a low probability result 5 working days later. I really think it varies location to location - but I certainly highly recommend ultrasound direct Bristol (no I don’t work for them!!! 😂)