Harmony /NIPT recommendations london?

[Whataretheodds]

I'm 9w and booked in for my NHS anomaly scan but want to do harmony as well (I'm 41). Any recommendations for where to get this done? Am not interested in finding out the sex at this stage and don't need bags of photos/video, just the NIPT.

Congrats on your pregnancy. I have been using The Birth Company on Harley Street. Extremely professional, and very welcoming. I did my NIPT with them and got the results back within 5 days. It could take longer, but I did it on a Monday and think I received it on a Thursday/Friday.

Congrats. I can't recommend a specific clinic (MC's in London were all before 11 weeks) but when I had it done abroad and when looking into it in london, I learnt the following:

• Harmony is just 1 of many brand names for the NIPT. SAfe, nifty, IONA, panorama are just some of the many other names for the same test.
• Ask where the testing is done. When developed, samples were sent to the US for analysis, but more places are testing within the UK now- but some still send to US. Sending samples abroad obviously adds time to get results, plus a slightly higher risk of samples going array/lost etc.
• Ask how you will be informed of the results? What follow up will THEY provide if its not good news?
• I've read of clinics that text or possibly ring through results, then tell you to find/ring a hospital for further advice or even contact a termination clinic yourself if bad news! IMO- this is absolutely unacceptable.
• My 1st pregnancy age 38, on NIPT was found to have patau- Trisomy 13. The clinic called me with the results- and had already booked me a slot for a more detailed scan the next day. The sonographer and consultant did the scan and explained results there and then. They provided a full referral to a hospital and we chose TFMR.
• Some hospitals will do NIPT testing as a private patient- so consider looking into that and not just private clinics.

Feel free to ask questions OK. Sorry OP, I know I haven't answered your exact question, but I wish I'd know some of this when I had my 1st NIPT.

Thanks both

@marmitecoriander wow that's reallt comprehensive and i wouldn't have known to check these things. Thank you

And, @MarmiteCoriander sorry for your losses. It's generous of you to share the info. Any thoughts on 10 weeks as the optimal point in time for the test?

I’ve used The Fetal Medical Centre on Harley Street on two occasions (2013 and 2017). I had both the Harmony test and a really detailed scan. So happy I went there worth the money. Wishing you all the best x

@Whataretheodds - I had the NIPT at (I think) 10+ 5. Some clinics do recommend waiting till 11 weeks, esp if your cycles/ovulation might be slightly out. There will also be more circulating foetal DNA if left a bit longer. They do a scan to check the size is at least 10 weeks- before doing the blood test anyway. I 'think' some clinics might do it at 9 weeks, but more risk of a repeat being needed as not enough DNA to test.

The flip side though, if left weeks longer and a TFMR would be needed/an option, then you'll be further along and possibly more traumatic.

Being overweight/obese can affect the results too and there is more chance of them not being able to get a result. Do check with the clinic- whether a 2nd blood test would be taken in this case- for free, or if you'd need to pay again or a part fee for 2nd test.

Ultrasound Diagnostic Services at 148 Harley Street without a doubt. Dr Basky is the best.

I too went with Ultrasound Diagnostic Services. My doctor advised waiting until at least 11 weeks to reduce risk of not enough dna.

I paid privately for the NIPT at 13 weeks. I did a google search on different companies in London to help with my decision but wish I gone with a personal recommendation.

I used a company in London The Medical Chambers Kensington and had to have my bloods taken three times as there was a mix up with bloods being collected. I was then told my bloods had been received and being processed when they hadn't which delayed the whole process even further.
The whole situation was so so stressful and caused anxiety for weeks before I finally got my results.
A situation I wouldn't want anyone to go through.

Hopefully there will be some positive recommendations on here :)
Good luck