NHS NIPT - when do you get the results?

[BlueLadybird]

I’ve tried to search for the answer but can’t seem to find it. I have a 12 week scan next week (very nervous as symptoms have eased since 8 week early reassurance scan and it is an IVF pregnancy). As part of it I’ll be having the screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Pateu’s syndromes.

I know they do some measurements from the scan and combine that with my age and a blood test. When did you get the results?

If the scan and test goes well I would like to tell my parents in person which takes a bit of planning.

Thanks in advance.

Not useful from me I'm afraid, but I was wondering the same thing.
I have my 12 week scan on Monday trying to manage my DH's expectations who very much wants to shout from the rooftops!

Hopefully someone can help us MrsC89!

NIPT is different to the NHS tests you have as part of the nuchal scan. Are you sure that's what you're having?

Hi,
I assume you're doing the standard screening and not the NIPT (which is a specific more accurate test that usually has to be paid for privately)?
If so, if your results show a "higher risk" they usually aim to let you know by phone within 3 days so that you can proceed with further testing if you'd like. If the result is lower risk then they tend to send you a letter which you get in 1-2 weeks.

Even if you do get a "high risk" result by phone the chances are still good that baby is OK, so don't panic!

Are you having NIPT @MrsC89 or just the standard NHS combined test? The latter takes about a week-10 day’s and if it is a high risk, they will call you.
If you had / have blood taken for NIPT (are you high risk?) then they will tell you at that point what their turnaround time currently is.
HTH.

@Tini17 yeah I got confused, I'm having the NHS standard combined test!

I didn’t think the nhs did an nipt. I understood they only did an NT which looks at risk factors and scan but doesn’t do the in-depth chromosome analysis you get with the NIPT

I got my results within a week on the app. Where I am they don’t send a letter out anymore, just use the app. I hate that but that’s what it is. If there is a problem they said they would call soon.

I had my results of the combined screening by mail within a few days xx

I had my results by letter in the post within a few days - I was surprised how quick it was!

Thanks all and apologies I was confused. I am having the NHS combined screening. So it seems I will hear the result within a week or so.

Does anyone know if tests such as Harmony screen for more things or just provide a more accurate result? I thought it was the latter and so decided to have the NHS one first and if it comes back as high risk I will have the Harmony/Panorama test a my cost. But if Harmony screens for more things perhaps I will just go for that now.

Thanks for everyone’s advice.

Hey OP. I thought I would share my experience too.

The ultrasound doc said at the scan that the fluid behind the neck was normal and to expect a low risk result from the combined test. She said she would call me by lunchtime the next day if it had come back as high risk, but she really didn't think it would. She also said the entire result would be up on the app within a couple of days.

I received no phone call the next day, so I felt relieved.

However nothing went up on the app at all. A couple of weeks went by and nothing. No call, no letter and nothing on the app. I got worried so I emailed the midwives email address which was in the bounty info pack provided at my first midwife appointment. I explained the situation and a couple of days later received and email saying someone would call me within a couple of days.

A couple of days later I had a call from the doc who did the scan and she assured me I was low risk and would receive the full report via post within a week to ten days. She said something was wrong with the app and they couldn't upload the results so a lot of women were waiting a long time and getting anxious. In any case, I received the letter as promised and all was ok.

I'm at UCLH, if anyone else reads this. Just get in touch with the midwives via email. All the best to all of you 😊

@Framlingham2 that must have been very worrying. Really pleased it was a good outcome for you.

My hospital send you away to get a coffee for about a hour after the scan and when you come back you get results of the combined screening then. If your risk is higher than 1:500 (as both mine were) they offer you the Harmony test so NHS do cover that in some trusts. I got results of Harmony within a week both times.

Harmony/other NIPT screens for the same conditions but is more accurate. Bear in mind that the low risk/high risk distinction of the NHS combined test is an entirely arbitrary threshold (usually 1:150) so it would still be possible to have a pregnancy that was positive for one of the three trisomies and be low risk on the combined screening.

BlueLadybird- yes it was a little bit worrying - but I just really held on to what the doc had said during the appointment and banned myself from googling the subject altogether, as I knew I would read something somewhere that would make me more worried. I've only looked into it after and so I'm hoping my experience with getting the test results back might help another pregnant mummy to be. My advice is - when the doc explains the procedure of getting the results, ask them what you should do if you don't get them by XYZ date. Drill them a little bit on it, so that you know what to do in case yours come back late. All the best to you, I'm sure all will be well, it is most of the time!

@DappledThings that sounds a great way of doing things. No mention of it on my hospital letter though so suspect I will be in for the week wait.

I know it’s silly but I was hoping to tell my parents the day after the scan if the scan itself is ok (not a given I know). But I want to wait until after the combined test result so will need to hang on a bit longer.

I had my combined test yesterday and was told I'd get a call within a couple of days if it comes back high risk, but at 45, I'm starting with a risk of 1 in 35. What are the chances of blood results and nuchal measurement reducing this risk??

45andfine I'm 43 and pregnant with my third. My NHS test came back as high risk (1:80) despite the nuchal fold only being 1.2mm. I presume my age immediately put me in the high risk group. We paid for the Harmony test privately (£450 - gulp!) and got a very low risk result within a week (1:10,000 for the three main trisomies) We also found out the gender as a bonus.

My previous pregnancies were both low risk, aged 38 and 40, so I do think the age is a major factor in the risk equation.

I would prepare yourself for being high risk initially, but if you can stretch the NIPT it's definitely worth it. Good luck x

Oh, RoLaren, that's very helpful. Thank you ❤️. I'll prepare myself for the call tomorrow. My nuchal measurement was 2.4, well below the point that they get concerned apparently, so I starting to hope it would be ok. I vaguely remember my midwife saying they offer some extra test for £100, I wish I had paid more attention. I don't think we could stretch to £450🙄

My results arrived this morning in the post! How quick is that? Appointment was 4pm Tuesday. And despite my advanced years I'm considered low risk. Such a relief!

Combined test results were in in 3 days for us. We were high risk for Downs so we did NIPT privately - Harmony. Then our hospital offered us SAFE for free, so we did that too. Harmony results arrived after 3 days. Midwife called with SAFE results after a full week.

@45andfine that is amazingly quick and a great outcome too.