How long for combined test results to come in?

[CoalCraft]

Hi everyone,

Question just as the title says really; in your experience how long does it take for results of the combined test (Down's, Edward's, Patau's) to come back?

I'm only 9+6 currently and have my scan on the 24th, where I'll be having the combined test. I have a virtual family gathering on the 27th where I'd like to break the pregnancy news, but would prefer to have an idea of the risk first so we can make any decisions relating to that in private. NHS online advice says three working days if the result is a high risk, otherwise two weeks. Just wondering how accurate this is in others' experiences? Would be nice to think "oh, haven't heard anything yet so must be low risk, I can tell family at gathering", but wondering if that's overly optimistic.

Sorry, I know this is a trivial reason to want to know. I'm in Newport if the region makes much difference.

Thanks

It took about a week for mine to come through... I was low risk 1 in 8000 for down syndrome and 1 in 100,000 for Edwards.
Have you got a specific reason why you are worried it would be high? Most likely everything will be fine :)
Congratulations

Had mine done on 1st June, they arrived in the post on the 9th. I was told i'd get a phone call before the letter if something was high risk. Good luck. x

They would mostly get in touch within 24-48 hours if you're high risk via phone call. My bloods were processed the day after my scan but took 6 days to come in the post after being processed.

Hi @coalcraft

I'm in the same health board as you I think (ABUHB). My scan and bloods were taken at 13+5. I started ringing for results at 16 weeks as I hadn't heard anything. I rang again at 17 weeks, and again at 18 weeks where I finally got the results. There was apparently a delay with the results being inputted into the system.

I'm now 26 weeks and have never received a letter with my results, so I don't know if this was an oversight or if our health board just don't bother with letters?

(Equally, my results were considered to be low risk [1 in 292], but I keep seeing posts with people panicking about results much much much lower risk than mine, so bear that in mind if you think you may worry regardless of whether or not you're told you're low risk or not.)

I had my blood tests done at the 12 week scan on Monday and my results were uploaded to the maternity notes app today. They came back as low risk.

As pp said if it's high risk you would get a phone call within 48 hours. So if you haven't had a call by the27th you can probably assume you are safe. However I think it's highly unlikely you will have had the letter with the actual results in by then.

My hospital does it while you wait. They do scan and take bloods then send you away for a coffee for an hour or so till results are in. Both times my result was high enough (greater than 1:500) that I hit the threshold for a free Harmony test and the bloods for that were taken right away too.

Thanks for responses everyone, no I'm not particularly worried that it'll be high risk, just if it is, would like to know before I tell people about the pregnancy. If I can expect a phone call within 48 hours if result is high risk, then after that time I can assume all is well if I haven't heard anything, iyswim

I believe the official cut off for high risk is 1:150 ? That's currently what I'm considering significant too.

@lumpydaisy Rubbish that you had to wait so long!

You would get a phone call within 3 working days if high risk. My letter took 2 weeks to arrive (low risk) but bloods were processed the day after the scan as the date was on the letter, so they check them very quick. If you have the scan on the 24th (this month?) which is Wednesday, I would like to think you would have heard by the Saturday 27th:)

I got mine recently so during covid and it took a week to come by post, low risk result. However with my first pregnancy it took 2 weeks to come. If it's high risk they will phone you when the results come back normally xx

I had my scan last week, 3 working days later I got the call we are high risk for downs.

The lady at the scan said lovely healthy baby - no concerns, and we told family a couple of days after thinking it is OK, but really regretted not waiting to have results back.
We haven't told everyone re high risk due to various reasons.
I had private screening test this week so should get results in a week or two. Its a very difficult wait especially when some family members don't know

You should get a call within 5 days if high risk or a letter within a week or two if low risk.
Personally I would wait but that's only because of what we are going through just now.

Congratulations and I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy