NIPT after low risk result from combined test?

[BirdIsland]

I've just had the results of my combined test that was done at my 12wk scan, and my result for Downs Syndrome was low risk - 1/800. I know this is positive news, but I also know the combined test isn't as accurate as the NIPT so I'm thinking of having the NIPT anyway, has anyone else done this?

I feel like I'm being a bit silly, given the low risk result from the NHS scan, and that maybe I should just leave it and save my £400 for all of the other things I'm going to need over the next few months!

Has anyone else has the NIPT done after a negative combined test? Or am I just being over anxious??

I've had it and waiting for results, should get them next week. I got the panorama test done at 9 weeks but was told I was 10 weeks as they did a scan

For £395 I had scan with USB drive with heartbeat, 3d and normal scans and scan video as well as print outs of them.

After they did the blood test I projectile vomited all over the floor :S !!

We haven't had any NHS scans or anything yet so I was keen to get things sort d asap

Plus I want to know baby's sex!!!!

I know 1/800 is considered low risk for NHS, I wouldn't be able to relax after that (DS was 1:3400, DD 1:8300) so I would have got it done.

But it depends on whether it'll change the outcome for you.

That's how I feel @Hmmmbop, the result isn't low risk enough that I can relax, if that makes sense. I felt a bit silly given I know others will receive genuine 'high risk' results which must be so stressful and really I should be happy with the result I have.

But I think I'll have the NIPT just to (hopefully) put my mind at rest, and as @lynwen84 says, find out the sex - really don't mind either way but keen to know now!

Hi. I understand where you are coming from and I would do the same. I’m expecting mine back next week and I’m an ‘older’ mum. Can I ask - £400 seems much lower price than I’ve seen advertised online, can I ask where you would get it done for that price please?

Good luck

There's a 99.999% chance your baby doesn't have downs - I'd say that's pretty low risk! I don't know how old you are, but a 35 year old typically has a risk of 1 in 350 so your risk is lower than that.

I wouldn't necessarily do the NIPT for peace of mind, because of course it still isn't a diagnostic test and it may not give you that reassurance you're looking for. My decision would depend on whether I was willing to have an amnio if that came back high risk, which ultimately depends on whether having a diagnosis of Down's syndrome would affect your decision to continue your pregnancy.

I paid for a harmony test because the risk was much higher than my first and whilst it was still low risk I wanted the peace of mind.

I did. The combined test has a fairly high false negative rate and I would have just kept worrying otherwise. It really put my mind at ease, you get certainty about the sex as well, and in my clinic also a scan that was so much more detailed than the NHS one.

How old are you, OP? Because this could be why you're 1/800 as opposed to 1 in 10,000.
You know what, just go for the peace of mind.

At age 37, I had a ratio of 1:11,000
Healthy DD
At 39, I had a ratio of 1:360!! Still within normal range, so nobody thought to investigate. My baby had a trisomy it was later found at the 20 week scan when soft markers showed up.

In your case, 1 in 800 would not worry me (I've had two 'trisomy' pregnancies). I would assume you're around age 40 and this has been factored into the those results. But you can't put a price on peace of mind. Go for further testing! Good luck!

@Gettingonabitnow here's where I got mine done

www.mums.me.uk/ultrasound-scans/nipt-harmony-test/

Thanks for your comments everyone, I'm 36 so old enough for my age to be a factor, but I'm aware some women my age get much lower risk results so my age probably isn't the only factor. The high false negative rate is a concern too.

I'm going to book in for the test next week, I've looked at This Is My and also Ultrasound Direct (you actually go to a branch of Mothercare) and both are around the £400 mark with similar turnaround times.

@BirdIsland do you have an update? I'm in similar position xx

Hi @bethxanne, I ended up having the NIPT when I was about 14 weeks with This Is My which came back with a much more reassuring result - I can't even remember what the result was now, I just know I was reassured when I got it. The test was about £400 and I got the results in less than a week. I also found out the sex of my baby which was lovely to know so early on. I just felt like the test took away one worry amongst the many worries and stresses of pregnancy!

Good luck, being pregnant is the most wonderful time but it does sometimes feel like one worry after another x

@BirdIsland Thankyoy for replying! Ah I'm so glad! My result from combined is 1 in 698 chance, which I know is low risk but with my son i had 1 in 10k chance so I'm not reassured at all. I've got a harmony test this morning as ultrasound direct as been past myself worrying. Xx