Difference between SAFE, Harmony and Panorama

[PenguinWatch]

Hi all.

I am nearly 20 weeks with DC2. At my 12 week scan I was given 1:196 odds of our baby having Trisomy 21 (with DC1, 3 years ago, the odds were 1:3800).

We've been debating whether to get further testing done and, whilst DH is taking the "whatever will be, will be" approach, as it is playing on my mind a lot, have decided to go down the non-invasive testing route, so we can be prepared if it does turn out that DC2 is likely to have DS.

However, I'm confused about the different tests offered. One clinic I saw recommended by another poster does SAFE, Harmony and Panorama. SAFE is around £100 cheaper than the other two but from what I can see, there is no really difference.

If any one can give me any guidance I'd really appreciate it!

From what I know they are all pretty much the same test under different company names. They are all nipty tests looking at foetal dna in the mothers blood.

We chose the harmony simply because that's the company they use at the fmc and we had previously seen the team at Kings and so felt 'safe' with them.

I think that the panorama test can also test for sex disorders like turners but I'm not entirely sure on that.

If it's T21 that you want to know about I think they are all pretty much 99% accurate. We were told if we came back high risk then it is almost certain that the baby has Down's syndrome. Therefore if you just want it as a pre-warning rather than making a decision based on the result I think any of the tests would be accurate enough.

Good luck

Thanks for your reply Kitty, that's really good to know. Yes, it would just be a pre-warning so, if needs be, we could be prepared and educate ourselves properly to do best by both DC1 and the baby. Or, if the test comes back clear, it'll be one less pregnancy anxiety to worry about!

Think getting a pre-warning is a good idea, it allows you to get an antenatal care plan in place and it may effect your birth plan and who they have at your birth medically (I don't know)

Have you had your anomoly scan yet? It is likely that if the baby does have T21 some soft markers would be picked up at the anomoly scan.

No, I've got that next week. I wasn't sure whether to wait until after then. I can't remember from DC1 - do you get a revised probability at the anomaly scan?

I think the main thing that affected the odds was the bloods. The Nuchal Fold measurement was 1.7, which I think is completely normal. The sonographer didn't really explain anything. She just kept saying my bloods were bad but the Nuchal Fold measurement was fine and if I wanted further clarity I could go for the Harmony test. I did ask her what the blood test results meant (as in, why they indicate a higher risk) but she just repeated that they indicated a 1:196 chance of Trisomy 21 and then rushed us out of the room!

They won't readjust the risk at the anomoly scan but they will look for soft makers that might be linked to trisomies.

That's really not great about the sonographer. If you look at your blood results a low Papp a and higher (as in roughly double the number) of hcg is what they judge the T21 risk on. The last number finishing MoM should be as close to 1 as possible (my negative harmony screen has a Papp a of 0.56 so a bit off 1 isn't too bad)

I guess it depends on if you want a definitive answer. If they find no soft markers would that make you happy enough to rule out T21? If not then a nipty would probably be best.

The sensitivity for the tests for the different trisomies does vary
This compares them - alexander-house.co.uk/index.php/down-s-syndrome-screening

Results for SAFE should be quickest as it's processed in a UK lab