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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Harmony blood test

35 replies

Hyland · 20/07/2016 14:39

Is this worth the £500. Can i go somewhere and get it cheaper?

Seems like £500 that could be spent on stuff for the baby rather than testing something the NHS will test for!

Albeit that the harmony test has better accuracy results.

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MrsStavrum · 20/07/2016 15:34

I hadn't heard of the Harmony test until you posted this so I am interested to hear the replies!

Just from a tiny bit of research and your post, it seems like a lot of money for something the NHS do anyway?

PotteringAlong · 20/07/2016 15:40

It depends why you want it I suppose and what that is worth for you.

Alicekeach · 20/07/2016 15:43

It was worth it for me. NHS test told me I was "high risk" (mostly due to my age I think). Consultant recommended Harmony which came back as low risk and is more accurate than the NHS test.

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 15:45

It claims that the regular test can miss problems 15% of the time. Harmony reckons that it is 99% accurate in detecting downs amongst other issues.

OP posts:

FraterculaArctica · 20/07/2016 15:46

The Harmony test will give you a more or less definitive answer, at least for T21, the NHS will just give you a risk factor. You will only get definitive testing on the NHS if your risk is greater than 1:150 (in most trusts). So it depends on your attitude to this risk and what you would anticipate doing if you did learn that the pregnancy was affected by a trisomy. For me it was important to know more or less for certain and thus well worth it; you may feel differently. But do understand the difference in Harmony versus NHS results (and also the likely timing of those results, you can get Harmony results earlier in your pregnancy by a couple of weeks or so).

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 15:58

Harmony can be tested from 10 weeks.

Also they can tell the sex.

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MadeForThis · 20/07/2016 16:00

Harmony is also just a blood test. So no risk to the baby.

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 16:06

Thanks not sure I realised that.

That is pretty important to me after ttc for 4 and half years.

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Out2pasture · 20/07/2016 16:09

The harmony (there are other brand names as well) tests for trisomies 21,18 and 13. The nuchial scan is an ultrasound measurement of the neck to estimate your risk of trisomy 21.
The blood test covers more conditions and is more accurate.

blue2014 · 20/07/2016 16:11

I was ttc for 4 years, had IVF and am now 20 weeks. I had harmony and for me it was worth it but that's because after all this time I'm convinced something with go wrong at every stage. We wouldn't have aborted for downs but probably would for the other two more serious conditions and I wanted the reassurance that we wouldn't find that out later down the line. We also found out the sex (which they do to texts for sex based genetic disorders) which has been good for me.

It didn't stop all the anxiety though, I was still terrified at the 20 week scan. If you can spare the cash do it, but if you'd really notice that missing money and can manage your anxiety then it's not necessary

CorkyBark · 20/07/2016 16:13

Contact the Fetal Medicine Centre - they're based in Harley Street and offer the Harmony test bundled with 12 week scan for £400.

RNBrie · 20/07/2016 16:17

The Fetal Medicine Centre in London do it for £400 at 10 weeks. There are some independent midwives in Surrey that do it for £345. For me, it was well worth the money. Dc3, I'm old and we wanted a level of certainty about the baby.

It's more reliable than the nuchal fold scan but less reliable than an amnio or cvs. however those tests carry a risk to the baby.

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 16:18

Think my partner will happily pay it, but i just didn't want to pay £500 if it was a little unnecessary. I'm 37 so think I've talked myself into having it.

I was hoping i could het cheaper as i know my IVF clinic over charged me for the scratch. £250 when i have read lots of places do it for £100.

We have already spent an absolute fortune. I'm very independent so have paid half of everything. Currently totally and utterly skint.

I know I'll have to depend on him during pregnancy, which is fine.

Just didn't want to waste money if that makes sense.

He'll happily pay.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 16:21

My Clinic is 92 Harley Street what number are they?

Great news if i can save a bit from the original £500.

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CorkyBark · 20/07/2016 16:24

137 Harley Street. Fresh in my mind as I went for my blood test yesterday at 10 weeks. Nice people, very thorough viability scan beforehand.

Out2pasture · 20/07/2016 16:25

I know your post is more about the money than reasons to do it but if this little one was conceived through reproductive help all the more reason to test using a more accurate blood test. As even simple IUI has an increased risk of abnormalities.

Original poster

Hyland · 20/07/2016 16:29

Yeah we had ICSI so that and my age 37 probably puts me at a higher risk.

I think i wasn't sure if it was really more accurate or just cleverly worded.

Forever the skeptic lol

If the Harmony blood test means leas risk to the baby as well then that has a thumbs up from me as well.

OP posts:

quitecrunchy · 20/07/2016 17:03

I had the Harmony (on the NHS, only in my area) after a high risk combined screening test. If I hadn't been offered it I would've paid for it privately due to the risk of miscarriage from invasive tests like the amnio and CVS. As PP said it also tests for other trisomies than Down's syndrome (I didn't realise at the time the combined screening was only for Down's) and for that reason and to avoid the stress of another high risk screening I'll go straight for the Harmony next time round.

riddles26 · 20/07/2016 17:09

We deliberated a lot about it. Eventually, we decided that we would get the NHS 12 week tests and if we felt our risk was high, we would pay for it instead of having amniocentesis as there is no risk to baby from blood test. This meant that we would pay £500 instead of the FMC offer of £400 as we would be getting it later.

Our NHS results came back as low risk so we didn't end up getting it done but I personally would prefer to spend the money rather than have an amnio.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 20/07/2016 17:14

I had NIPT which is the same as Harmony. It's also covered by insurance here so no out of pocket cost.

Very glad I did - found out I had a 1:250,000 risk of all 3 trisomies at just 9 weeks gestation, despite being an older mum. We previously had an embryo that tested positive for a trisomy disorder (cri de chat syndrome??) so really appreciated the peace of mind.

DrWhy · 20/07/2016 17:27

I also had NIPT, I had a lot of other stress going on and wanted to just know as soon as possible instead of getting a high risk result on the NHS then getting it done and potentially terminating several weeks later than it would have been possible if I'd known from NIPT. I think this was compounded by talking to a friend who terminated due to Edwards at 15 weeks and it sounded very traumatic, I figured the earlier I could know the better.
Finally the NHS here won't tell you gender, which I wanted to know so we'd have had to pay for a private scan anyway.

blue2014 · 20/07/2016 18:28

Ultrasound direct charged me £399

Pixie2015 · 20/07/2016 18:36

I paid £399 at ultrasound direct too as I am 38y and wanted a more definite risk. Was very friendly environment and most enjoyable scan. Also great to know we were having a boy at 12 weeks.

divadee · 21/07/2016 07:17

I am looking into this at ultrasound direct. I am 12 weeks but with an age of 39 I know I am probably going to get a high risk result.

I can get an appt Monday if I book today.

FraterculaArctica · 21/07/2016 08:42

Just to clarify, the Harmony test is no less risky to the baby than the NHS blood tests you'd have done. It's less risky than amniocentesis or CVS but you'd only be offered those on the NHS if your bloods came back high risk.

I find the statistic that the NHS blood tests 'miss' 15% of trisomy cases misleading. They don't claim to be diagnostic, so of course there will be people who are the 1 in 250 or 1 in 3000 or whatever who are not diagnosed because they don't go on to have invasive testing, but this is inherent in the statistical nature of the risk factor and people need to understand this in making testing decisions.

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