No Harmony test result/ insufficient fetal DNA

[IzzyCat1984]

Hi everyone! I am new to mumsnet and 12 weeks’ pregnant, 1st pregnancy (IVF) age 36. I decided to get Harmony test at 10+3.. an early scan looked fine. They called me today saying insufficient fetal DNA and only occurs in about 2% of cases and to come back at 13 weeks to try again. I was so worried and have since googled (bad idea I know). I am on blood thinners - aspirin and clexane, as well as having autoimmune disease - rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly it says online that if you are on blood thinners it significantly increases chance of not getting enough fetal DNA/ insufficient sample! I just wondered if anyone is on similar medications to me and managed to get result or what your experiences were even if you are not? Advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

Hi @IzzyCat1984, I know these nipt tests state they can be done from 10 weeks, but because of this exact reason hey are far more reliable from 13 weeks onwards.

I had a harmony test done at just over 11 weeks which also came back with insufficient fetal dna.

I then decided to go for a SAFE nipt rather than a harmony test. The SAFE test requires less fetal dna, 2% I believe rather than 4% required for harmony.

I also take aspirin and was told by the company performing the nipt not to take my aspirin in the 24 hours before the test.

I did as they said and had my nipt test done at 13+4. I then got my results a week later and all was perfect. Lowest results possible on the SAFE nipt at 1:100,000 for all 3 trisomies.

Hi, this happened to me too. Had the test at 10-11 weeks and it was insufficient. Repeated a week later and it was fine. Pregnancy was fine in the end but worrying while we waited for the second result.
Hope the repeat is ok for you, I think it’s quite common for this to happen especially if the test is taken early from what I read.

I also recommend the SAFE test. Harmony failed for me twice (high BMI might have been the cause), SAFE worked at first attempt at about 11 weeks.

I had mine done in the US where NIPT is standard and they wouldn’t do it before 11 weeks as there’s too high a chance of not getting a result. 10+3 is really early and it isn’t that surprising there wasn’t enough DNA. No need to worry, it really doesn’t mean anything.

I got 2 in a row!
Also an IVF pregnancy with clexane etc

First was at 10 weeks, 2nd at 12 weeks and then finally got a valid result at 14 weeks

It happened to me at 10+1, and was repeated 2 weeks later. I was worried sick but got a result the 2nd time. They process the repeat samples more quickly so you won’t have to wait a full 2 weeks. I wasn’t on any medication at the time.

Thank you SO much to everyone who kindly took the time to reply to me! I feel a lot better now and it is much appreciated. I was quite upset when they called me but I am now beginning to realise it is a lot more common than I thought. I did wonder whether 10 weeks was too early but was maybe over keen. It’s also really useful to read that the SAFE is an alternative and that less fetal DNA is required!

It is such a minefield as I read about Panorama and testing for microdeletions etc, and also with Harmony there is option of testing for sex chromosome abnormalities such as Turner’s and Klinefelters. Did anyone choose to do this? I read that it is less accurate and can lead to a lot of false positives and distress. Part of me is tempted just to get refund and try SAFE. All these screens cause so much stress

@IzzyCat1984 like you I did LOADS of research on the different nipt tests available before having one done. I also looked into panorama and the microdeletion testing etc.

In the end I went with harmony because it was local and the cheapest. Then had the SAFE done. I wish in hindsight I’d just gone for the SAFE from the start. On reading up on them all it was the one I was leaning towards anyway, unfortunately I got drawn in by just going local.

I know this is stressful, but I promise you it’s nothing compared to the stress of not having one, and then getting dodgy results from the 12 week scan and bloods.
I had that with my first pregnancy, then had to wait 2 more weeks for another scan and amnio

The decision of which NIPT was a walk in the park in comparison - I promise any/all of the associated stress is absolutely worth it

Amnio sounds horrendously stressful, I’m sorry you had to go through that. The combined test and screening on NHS doesn’t sound accurate. I just wish I could find some stats on how reliable the sex chromosome anomaly screening with Harmony is. The nurse at the clinic said to me ‘you’d be opening a can of worms there’ and didn’t approve.. and Panorama checks for syndromes I’ve never heard of...

@Moominmiss if you don’t mind me asking what put you off having microdeletions tested in the end? Risk of false false positives etc? I don’t personally know anyone who has had it done. I have been totally drawn in with the local option. Due to Covid I haven’t wanted to travel far!

@IzzyCat1984 honestly I just preferred everything I read about the SAFE test. The fact that the nipts are less accurate for other abnormalities I guess was a factor, but I figured I had to draw the line somewhere. So I could have had microdeletions tested but then there are still plenty of other things that these tests aren’t designed to pick up.

So far up until now everything has looked good on scans. My nipt was perfect, so for now I’m just going with that and hoping things still look as positive when I have my 20 week scan in a couple of weeks.

So in some ways I do see what the nurse was trying to say in opening up a can of worms.

If you feel though that having a panorama or some other test done that will test for extra things then I’d go ahead. For me personally I knew I’d get the reassurance I needed from the SAFE test.

X

I did the NIPT and was on tinzaparin and aspirin. Got 2 failed results, but by that point I got the NHS low probability result so I didn’t bother with a third go and got a partial refund.