Harmony vs Panorama testing?

[wombats]

Anyone have experience with these NIPT tests? I am 36 and after multiple losses and IVF I am quite nervous about having a healthy baby. It looks like the basic screen offered on the NHS will only find about 70-80% of Down's cases and 80% of Edward's or Patau. Given all that I've been through I am thrilled to be pregnant but quite anxious, and would like to know as soon as possible if something might be wrong. Can you share a bit about your thought process in deciding on Harmony or Panorama, and whether you chose the additional microdeletion testing?

I've also looked at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London and see that they offer Harmony only. The lead consultant is a well known researcher in fetal medicine, curious to know why he wouldn't offer both tests.

I went for the harmony test at a babybond clinic (also 36 years old). After reading up on the combined NHS test I decided that the chances were it would come back high risk anyway because of my age and I didn't want the extra worry of waiting for further tests. So never had the NHS tests done.

I didn't go for the microdeletion tests either as these are so rare it's not really something worth worrying about, there is also a chance that the test will give false positives for these as it can pick up on damaged DNA from the placenta.

As far as I can tell the panorama and harmony tests are essentially the same test, they are just different brand names carried out by different companies. Harmony bloods are tested in the UK, Panorama are sent to the US. The reporting is also slightly different, we still only got a 1:xxxxx result with the harmony but because it is based in the babies DNA rather than a biochemical test I was far more assured of the results. I think the panorama may give the results as positive of negative? I had the blood taken on the Friday and got the results the following Thursday.

Hey Wombats!

I’m having Harmony next week, and really the decision was based on location for me - there aren’t many places that do NIPT in NE England so that kinda made choosing simple!. I found ARC a useful source of info www.arc-uk.org/tests-explained/non-invasive-prenatal-testing-nipt

I guess I came to the conclusion that all the tests are pretty similar really in terms of downs, Edwards and Pataus, which is what we are interested in. I also read on another thread that the Portland Hospital has stopped offering microdeletions because the rate of false positives was high.

Good luck whatever you decide

www.arc-uk.org/tests-explained/non-invasive-prenatal-testing-nipt

I had the harmony test done mainly as a few of my friends back in Australia recommended I get it done to be very certain of the results.

One of my friends back home had her NT scan at 13 weeks which showed a high risk for Downs. She then had the harmony test which showed 1:10,000. Obviously the week between these two tests were full of tears and stress. Therefore I just thought I'd prefer to cut out all that stress and get a 99.9% accurate result.

I had mine done at the Birth Centre in Harley street. I think it's in the same building as the FMC.

Their blood test also included a scan which was nice. I had mine done at 10+1 and the results were phoned and emailed to me 5 days later. I didn't get the microdeletion results. I can't recall why. I'm not sure they were included.

I'm very glad we got it done. We were able to tell our doctor at the 12 scan and she used these results combined with her findings. She even said the harmony test results were more accurate than the scan and screening for the trisomies.

If you're happy to pay around £500 I would definitely recommend doing it.

I had the SAFE test done privately at St George's Hospital for peace of mind early last year. I shopped around ahead of doing it and it was the least expensive NIPT option (around £300 if I remember correctly) at the time. I was really pleased I did it as it offered reassurance after multiple miscarriages (once which had been a MMC due to a chromosome trisomy). St George's said there was no point in doing micro deletion testing unless known genetic disorders ran in the family. When I had my 12 week scan at St Thomas 2 weeks later they didn't bother doing the blood testing at all as they said my SAFE results were far more accurate. Would def recommend the SAFE test at St George's.

Hi Rational! Didn't realise it was already time for your testing! Thanks for the info on the false positives, makes sense as the Panorama patient leaflet doesn't list them, which is quite cheeky.

Fluffy, thank you for sharing, congrats on the normal screen. I'm of a similar mind, would rather know sooner than wait for generic screen on NHS and have more specific testing delayed.

Minkies, thank you and congrats on the normal screen. It is a heap of money but if it can reduce some heartbreak or anxiety, seems well worth it.

Happy to hear any further opinions if anyone else is reading.

We looked and chose panorama, based on a slightly wider range of syndromes tested and because if you are are high risk for downs, this is very likely to be also flagged by the nhs early screens and many places will then offer a follow up SAFE/Harmony anyway.

Many offer both, if they aren't it could well just be because Harmony is better known so they don't want to rep for a second. Odds for either are very good though, so you should be fine either way.

In order to make your decision it is worth making sure that you know what the detection rates are for each condition that they are offering to screen for. Many advertise a 99% detection rate but this is often only for Down's syndrome with the detection rates for some of the other conditions being lower.