Testing for chromosomal abnormalities - anyone done the harmony test?

[MumRuns77]

I'm in my 40s so I know I'm at higher risk of carrying a baby with chromosomal abnormalities. I know that on the NHS the risk is assessed at the 12 week scan but I have heard that you can pay (a lot - like £400-£500) for a private 'harmony' test which is slightly more accurate and can be taken from 10 weeks. I'm thinking that it might be worth the money to know the outcome slightly sooner and with slightly more accuracy.

Has anyone had this test? How did you get it? Did you involve your GP? How do you feel about it now?

I'm 42 and did one as wanted more accurate "results" than the NHS screening could offer. I didn't talk to GP, but mentioned it at my booking appointment and the midwife said that in that case NHS screening wouldn't be needed. But I did ask the sonographer to check the measurements at the 12 weeks scan anyway as I wanted to know.
For the harmony test I googled local private clinics who offer it, called and booked and had my appointment one evening after work. That was Monday and they called the results on Friday same week. All came out very low risk and I'm happy I did it. My midwife also wanted a copy of the results in my maternity notes.
They can - most of the time - also tell the sex of the baby so please make sure you let them know if you wish not to know.
I think it's worth for the extra peace of mind. Good luck with your pregnancy!

I've had it, as I knew for various reasons that I'd be high risk automatically with the NHS combined testing. I just booked direct with the private clinic but I think some areas offer it on the NHS in some circumstances, so you'd need to check your area. The midwife/hospital would be best contact, I found local GP not up to speed on it. Results took a calendar week to get back, when I had it in March. There are other very similar tests available, Iona, Panorama etc, which are all similar but slight differences in accuracy and what they test for, so best to research which you'd prefer then finder a provider (if not available on NHS in your area). I went with a local private hospital as I knew the consultant is also the main NHS consultant here and I wanted continuity of care if there had been an issue.

I had a harmony test as I wanted more peace of mind than anomaly scan. It was a really good experience. Ultrasound at 10 weeks and blood sample taken at the same time. I paid £390 in the south east so worth looking at a few places as cost varies quite a lot.

google "this is my" - they have clinics all over. i went with this is my leeds. i had the serenity test. same thing as harmony and cost about £290 i think.
i did it by post. midwife drew bloods and i sent it away.

outcome was not good for me and at 44 i found i was carrying a little girl with a chromosomal abnormality. CVS confirmed it.

i chose not to continue with the pregnancy. it killed me.

The Harmony test analyzes cell free DNA in maternal blood and gives a strong indication of whether the fetus is at high or low risk of having trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) or trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).

The test identifies 99%, but not all, of the fetuses with trisomy 21, 97% of fetuses with trisomy 18 and 92% of fetuses with trisomy 13.

This level of accuracy is much greater than the standard non invasive NHS tests, and often enable you to avoid the risks of amnio or CVS.

I had it done (I was 42), and I'd recommend it. My age alone would have put me as high risk under the standard test, and I was told I would have been referred for amnio. I wanted to avoid amnio due to the misacarriage risk.

just be aware the outcome is not always peace of mind. it wasnt for me. it was bombshell.
im glad i had it and it gave me greater control at a much earlier stage of pregnancy.
i had it at exactly 10 weeks 2 days. the results took a while. cvs then couldnt be done until after 12 weeks.
i couldnt terminate without absolutely knowing so i opted for CVS.

i had medical management at around 14 weeks. it was traumatising and awful. be sure you want to know the outcome before you go and have the test. it was a year ago and im about to begin counselling. i was the worst thing ive ever done in my life.

Would definitely recommend it for peace of mind. If you're in London highly recommend the Fetal Medicine Centre (FMC). Also look into the SAFE test as alternative - unlike Harmony and Panorama the results are analysed in the UK rather than having to be sent to the US so faster processing time and £100 cheaper in most cases.

You might qualify for NIPT on NHS anyway given age - check with your midwife before shelling out for private? And occasionally they may need to redraw sample - doesn't happen too often but check that the lab will do that for free if it is needed when you sign up.

I had it recently at the Fetal Medicine Clinic in London as my age alone would have put me at high risk. I had a scan at 10 weeks, and a blood test where they analyse fragments of Fetal DNA.
We decided to have it done to be as prepared as possible. A close friend had a baby with Down's despite being low risk and he really struggled to cope as they were so unprepared. (baby had lots of other issues as well).
I can't quite remember how much is was, I think around £400 for the scans and bloods.
We self referred, GP involvement wasn't needed. Still had all the tests offered on the NHS as advised by the midwife. No regrets and would have it again.

I had it done recently, just looked up local genetic screening places. It's just a scan and having blood taken.

To me the £400 was worth it as I knew what choice I would make if bad news and would rather that as early as possible and not at 20+ weeks as NHS offers with amnio.

I'm currently ttc but I'm now 45. I would have the same test again.

I did not by post. You don't have ro get a scan at same time. Mine was £290.

Myusernamewhichisthis I am so sorry for your loss.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. Very useful and practical advice.

Thank you for posted my, I was researching this today. My thoughts are the same as yours, it's going to come back high risk because of my age and possibly better to know earlier than late - as every week is a huge milestone for me and baby. My only dilemma is that they can't exclude downs :( I'd like to test for those conditions that make life outside the womb virtually impossible, but was planning to leave downs out as it doesn't fit that criteria. I didn't want to know until I gave birth because then I'd have a beautiful baby rather than a label with unknowns. The jury is still out this side, it worries me, but I did have an early private scan and I couldn't rate them high enough, they were wonderful.

Just to add £399 here.

I'm so sorry for people's losses.

I was pregnant earlier this year (mc at Easter). I'm 40, the me told me it will be on the NHS next year.

Not sure if that's helpful or not.