Harmoney results - should i be worried?

[Sunsetswim]

I went for harmony test over a week ago because the nhs couldnt carry out the combined test before 14weeks because position of baby at the scan.

I wanted to ensure given my age - coming up for 38 so paid privately for harmony test. Ive been waiting on results and just got an email that said they couldnt get a result because;

" has not met the laboratory’s quality control metrics due insufficient fetal DNA and it is necessary to carry out a blood redraw"

Ive had to rebook an appointment for 2 weeks time. I feel so anxious because by time i get results ill be near 20weeks.

I feel im not being told someone. I was 14 weeks when harmony test was done
Does anyone have any idea why there wasnt adequate fetal dna?

Told something i mean

I had this with my twins except it was at 10 weeks but had a redraw and everything was fine.

It can be affected by your weight, IVF and other factors so I wouldn't worry too much at this point - usually with downs / pateus / edwards there is an issue clearly identifiable at the 12 week scan - assuming that what they saw all looked fine then I'd assume this was just a one off/bad luck in the sample they took

I'm sorry you are in this position, the limbo period for this sucks.
There is a fantastic sub Reddit called NIPT and the mod has done a huge mount of research and is extremely knowledgable about these sorts of things. There is also a licensed genetics councillor who comments on a lot of the posts. I highly recommend posting on there for advice. It really helped me when I had my NIPT results and I learnt so much from it

I had the same as you with bloods taken at 10 and 12 weeks. Finally got a valid result at 14+ weeks

Lots of factors can influence it, as pp said

If you’re on blood thinners, your weight, the placenta etc

Can you pay for a private anomaly scan now to get a good look before your 20 week scan?

Thanks i am overweight so that might be a factor. I wish they would be honest but i was speaking to the office manager of the clinic and she started saying my kidneys must work really well and thats why it couldnt pick up babies dna- just nonsense getting spoken i would rather they were honest and it weight is a factor say that.

I know that 10 weeks it can sometimes be struggle getting results but was hoping by 14 may have been easier.

I was worried about not getting results by 20 weeks andthis is now whats happeing

Thanks so much for your replies.

@shootingstar94 oh i will take a look at that.

@gappyvalley im reluctant to go for a private scan as ive paid £500 for harmony and i just feel with private they arent given me accurate info about health.

I will get rescanned at the next appointment its just this waiting longer and longer

Hi, I also had my first down syndrome test done with NHS ( combined screening) and the result came back with high risk of baby having the down syndrome. NHS recommended me three options, I went for the NIPT, the result came back inconclusive. Unfortunately, I was not given clear instructions that i could repeat the test with them so before opting for the aminocentisis procedure, I went private to repeat the NIPT test. The result was same inconclusive as they found no DNA in my blood. They are willing to repeat the test but next week and the result can take 7- 10 days. I am 17 weeks preg already and do not want to delay it any longer so I have now chosen to go with Aminocentisis procedure. It was a difficult choice to make but the results of the blood test takes ages, I started the process at 12 weeks and 5 weeks are gone already.

Not everyone is prepared to go with the Amino procedure as there is a 1% risk of miscarriage and chances of infection but I have not got much choice TBH.
Please see what suit you and if you can repeat the blood test. Wish you all the best in whatever decision you take. Sending you hugs xx

@Vinee555 thank you. Ive rescedule to have bloods retaken on saturday. They suggested waiting until 2 weeks from last bloods but im nearing 16 weeks so i would rather just get it done.

Wishing you all the best with your amnio test, it will give you peace of mind getting it done and getting results quicker.

I am overweight with a bmi of 31. As I am also 38 years old I’d already decided from the start to skip the nhs combined screening and have a nipt test done.

I booked a harmony test and had that done when I was 11+6. After a week I got a call to say they had been unable to get enough fetal dna from my blood sample.

They were pretty useless at rearranging a repeat and after doing more research into the various nipt tests available we bit the bullet and paid again elsewhere to have a SAFE nipt carried out. It requires only 2% fetal dna instead of the 4% required with a harmony test. So is rated as the best test for women who are overweight.

I had been taking aspirin from the start of my pregnancy and at no point had the harmony testing place warned me not to take it, however straight away when booking the SAFE nipt I was told not to take my aspirin dose for 24 hours prior to my test.

I had the SAFE nipt carried out at 13+4 and a week later got the results that were the lowest risk possible - 1:100,000 for all 3 trisomies.

Don’t panic about an inconclusive result meaning anything, I have spoken with countless ladies that got 2 or even 3 sets of inconclusive results who either eventually got results from it, or went onto have an amnio and had things turn out fine anyway.

Good luck for your redraw!

It’s quite common, it just means they messed up your sample when they were testing or taking the blood. It is no reflection on the result. Frustrating to wait but ask them to expedite the results and get some reassurance that the info will still be accurate at this stage of the pregnancy. I’m sure all is fine! I’m waiting for my results too any day now

Thanks ladies for replies. Best of luck to those waiting on results.

I had mine redonr yesterday. Snonographer confirmed weight would be big factor
Im actually not feeling hopeful i will get results with this next test.

@moominmiss i wish i had researched bit more about SAFE nipt. I also wish the clinic had explained weight could be factor x

I went for redraw ive waited 12 days for results and they have come back with insufficient fetal dna

I am really annoyed at whats happening. The time of waiting is worrying me more and more. Im not getting accurate information and if the test wont work id rather have information about that instead of having to chase.

If they are unable to give you a result over a reasonable time/ number of attempts I would just ask for your money back and look into an alternative. If they are funny about giving you your money back you can say if they had told you your weight would make it unlikely that you’d get a result you wouldn’t have taken the test. Your usual consumer rights apply here so hopefully they will be reasonable. Sorry it’s been such a long process. Did you also do the nhs test for nuchal translucency? Hopefully that might give you some reassurance too as most people rely on only that.

Thanks for replying.

My only concern is in glasgow it seems to be few companies who carry out nipt there is not an alternative to try.

Im going to discuss it when the doctor gets round to calling. Im so frustrated.

I only went for this test because nhs couldnt carry out the combined screening because baby was in wrong position.

I did get quadruple test last week on nhs this screens only for down syndrome and it came back low. I was thinking if they werw able to get results from bloods for that screening then surely harmony would work.