NHS Combined Screening Results

[Mamma333]

Hi, for those that had the NHS combined blood test for Downs, Edward’s & Patau’s at your 12 week scan, how long did it take for you to receive your results? I had my 12 week scan & bloods last Monday and so far heard nothing. Spoke to my midwife about it this week and she said they wouldn’t get the results. I’m feeling really anxious about it and now kind of wished I had paid to have NIPT testing done if I knew it was going to take this long.

If I remember rightly it took 2/3 weeks for mine. I got a letter in the post I think. Try not to worry- I know it’s hard but the risks are generally quite low/rare conditions.

If your results come back low risk, you get a letter and it takes longer. if they come back elevated risk, you will get a phone call usually within a shorter timeframe (I got a call back I think within a week if not less). So if you haven't heard anything it's a good sign.

If the result falls into the high risk category, they usually call you within a few days-week depending on what day your samples were taken.

If the result is low risk, it can take up to two weeks for a letter to come through, so no news is good news.

The test is combined with a scan. So I had the test and then a week later I had a scan (13 weeks). During the scan they input the results in a formula they use, the result would give you a risk assessment (1 in x....ect)

Don't know how results work with this specific test but if you have the NHS app you can often see results quite quickly - long before you'd be contacted. And the site Patientsknowbest.com has them before even the app.

Thanks for the replies. I’m checking NHS app everyday but so far nothing on there. I’m worried what the NHS might consider low risk, might not be low enough for me if that makes sense. My last baby was born 10 years ago and I’m now 36 so know I’m more at risk etc. I’m sure I didn’t have all this anxiety last time, feel like there’s so much more information out there now which just adds more stress!

A low risk result is less than 1 in 150 chance of having a baby with one of the trisomies they are testing for. So 0.67% chance or less. Hope you hear soon!

It sounds as though an NIPT would suit you anyway (unless the risk result is very very low) just so you can relax. I had an NIPT test privately and it made me enjoy the pregnancy so much more.

I was told I would hear back within 5 days if anything came back high risk, they then emailed me the results within 2 weeks.

Like you I also felt really anxious this time, third pregnancy and first one in my 30's. I couldn't shake the feeling so I paid privately and had the NIPT test last week. Results still take around 5 working days but I'm happy that it's more of an accurate result.

I think it varies by your NHS trust but you would receive a phone call within a week if there was a high risk chance so I know it’s hard but try not to worry as no news is usually good news 😊

@Mamma333 I got mine back in about a week I think. Like someone else said, they ring you if it's high risk, but just send the letter if it's low. I wouldn't bother checking the NHS app obsessively - my result isn't on there and I had mine back weeks ago.

Have you checked your badger notes? Should be on there. If you are low risk it takes longer. The NIPT takes a while to come back too

Agree with those who say no news is good news - they would call you about a high risk result. When I got my results they were delayed in the post so I ended up calling the hospital to find out what they were after I waited two weeks and they hadn't arrived - could you do the same if you get to Monday and they still haven't arrived? I got my results over the phone and then the paper version eventually showed up in the post a couple of days after that. They never appeared on the NHS app or Patients Know Best.

Different Trusts have different timelines.

At mine they take bloods, do the scan then send you off for a coffee for about 90 minutes and then you go back and get the results the same day.

About 2 weeks through the post

I had my bloods and scan on the Friday and got the results the following Tuesday by post, I was shocked how quick it was

I had my app on Thursday and received a letter on Monday. X

My NHS trust said they would call within 3 day if it was high risk. It was written in my Combined Screening doc that I received with the appointment letter. Low risk results they said it could take 2 weeks.

Badger was updated a week after the test and I received my results letter on day 11. It's an anxious wait, but if you haven't heard already it probably good news

Thanks for all the replies. I have checked my badger notes but there’s hardly anything on there! When I spoke to my midwife last week and asked why my blood tests results from my 10 week appointment with her hadn’t been published on there, she said it gets done at my 16 week appointment. The waiting game is hard but I’m really trying to stay positive. Does anyone know if you can have a NIPT test at 15 weeks? I was looking to give it another week for the NHS results to come through and if nothing I’ll look at having a NIPT test done privately.