Test for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia?

[nextweek]

Hi, I'm currently 9+1 following IVF treatment and am looking for some advice about tests. I contacted my midwife unit when I was 7+4 (bit of delay in making contact with them due to a mix up which I wont bore you with the details of). They said they would get back to me to arrange an appointment and 12wk scan, but I've not heard from them yet. However, I've read that "Screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia should be offered before 10 weeks".
I'm worried that this now wont happen in time but I'm not sure if everyone gets those tests or if it absolutely has to be done before 10 weeks? Anyone have any experience of this?
This is the first time I've got this far as my previous pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage before 7 weeks.

Thanks

I think mine were done with my booking bloods but I'm not sure. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to advise.

However, you should have a date for your booking-in appointment by now. Probably best to contact the midwife team again.

@ThanksItHasPockets thanks for replying, they said it could take couple weeks to get back to me, but at that point I didn't know about those tests. I think I'll give them a call today to be on the safe side. thanks

Hello, I had my booking appointment over the phone (around 10 weeks I think) and then bloods when I went for my 12 week scan.

I don’t think the 10 week thing is a cut off, it just reflects when you would usually have had your booking appointment face to face pre-covid.

I think it's just guidance. When I was pregnant in lockdown 1, I had a telephone booking appointment at 8 weeks and then collected my notes and had all my bloods done after my dating scan at nearly 13 weeks. I think that was the norm for most people and still is a case for some hospital trusts in this lockdown. I'd try not to worry too much. The NT screening at the dating scan is more important timewise, if you want to do that.

You're right that the NHS do recommend you get these tests early but if you read the full article (I obsessively read everything I could!) it's because in the very unlikely event that you are a carrier there is further testing to be done (assuming you want to) and you might have some choices to make. It doesn't explicitly say this but I read it as meaning that they want to build in some time for the odd occasion where there is further investigation to do. You will still get the same result and have the same care if you do the screening later. Note that it is very unlikely that both you and baby's father are carriers and this is almost certainly nothing to worry about.

More information can be found here:
www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-for-sickle-cell-and-thalassaemia/

Thank you all for your responses, that's reassured me that it wont be a problem if it's past 10 weeks. I haven't told anyone in 'real life' that I'm pregnant yet so couldn't ask any of my friends who have had babies recently!