When is best to get NIPT scan?

[NatterNatter50]

Hello, hope you lovely ladies can help. I am aged 41 and have just turned 6 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first pregnancy was perfect - no issues conceiving etc. This second time has been completely different in the sense that I had 2 early miscarriages last year so I am being cautiously optimistic this time.

im looking to book my NIPT test and was wondering when the best time would be to get it done. I am worried about getting it done at 10 or 11 weeks and then miscarrying straight after. Would waiting until 12 weeks be too late and much more stressing if something is wrong?

I know nobody has a crystal ball where they can tell what the best time would be for me but I guess I’m just wondering… how late is too late to do the test? Thanks x

I think you need to speak to the provider. As I recall 11 weeks was ideal but I can’t remember if there was a cut off. Remember there is a wait to get results after the test - 7 working days I think ours was.

The clinic I had mine at was from 11 weeks I think, but I had mine done at 15 weeks due to results of my 12 week scan. I got to have a really detailed look at the baby as part of the package so even though it was expensive, it was worth it as it gave us reassurance.

If it was me I'd wait for the 12 week scan, as that would give you an idea of whether it's high risk or not - money isn't everything but you might end having the testing for free on the NHS if they had any concerns.

Thank you both. I am thinking later past 11 weeks is best too

I paid privately and had it done at 16 weeks. I would definitely wait until after the 12 week scan because you don't know what the NHS combined result is (you may be offered on NHS anyway) and also like you say before 12 weeks it could go either way.

money isn't everything but you might end having the testing for free on the NHS if they had any concerns

This is true, when I had it the NHS did not offer it

Thank you all. This is so helpful.
Leaning towards waiting until the nhs 12 week scan.
if the nhs screening comes back as ‘low risk’ then would you still pay and get NIPT done after 12 weeks anyway given the nhs screening is not as accurate and could give a false negative? Or would you not bother with nipt then?

I came back as low risk and still paid for the NIPT this time.

Due to the advanced maternal age (higher risk of genetic abnormalities) I personally would go for an NIPT. Remember that some brands of NIPT (the ones that screen for hundreds of genetic abnormalities at once, instead of just the Big 3) can give false positives, so you'd then need a follow-up amniocentesis to confirm - which is invasive and comes with a low risk of miscarriage.

Depends on your trust. Mine were offering it 10 years ago for anyone who came up on a certain risk value from the combined tests. Other trusts started offering it in a trickle. Probably some still don't.

I'm outside the UK, 41 years old and paid for a private NIPT at 10+5 (one of the advanced ones that checks for 70 different genetic and chromosomal issues).

I think some people (such as myself) like getting it done before the NHS screening as that way you already know you’re low risk going in for the scan and screening tests. I think it especially makes sense to do it early if you’re older and there a chance you might come back as high risk from the screening.

I was very anxious with this pregnancy in those early weeks as I’d had two miscarriages last year so I got my NIPT done as soon as I turned 10 weeks which is the earliest you can do it. I was pleased I did as my screening result showed 1/207 risk for downs and I was pleased to have the NIPT already done before getting those results as they were a higher risk level than I had expected.

Having said that, although I got a low-risk result the fetal fraction was low and that in itself stressed me out a bit. So ideally I would have waited at least another week or so until 11 weeks.

Yes, I was one of these. I knew my 12 week screening would come back as high risk because I'm 41 so wanted the NIPT first to prevent all that extra stress!
It worked. I had my results back before the scan (low risk for everything) so was very relaxed during the scan appointment and opted out of the combined screening tests.
We did still check NT, Nasal bone, organs, limbs etc but it was very calm and just an extra confirmation

Thank you. Yes I hadn’t thought of it like that. Maybe it is better to just avoid the extra stress of waiting for a high risk nhs screening and then nipt results on top of that. I’m just so scared that my previous miscarriages indicate that even a successful pregnancy would mean having genetic abnormalities / a baby that’s not completely healthy.