Low risk NIPT, high risk combined test?

[TiredTammy]

I just had my 12 week scan and my combined test screening came back as 1 in 119 for Downs which they said is borderline high (partly due to my age of 37 which creates a high baseline risk) so they have now senty blood off for the Harmony/NIPT test. I actually already had a NIPT test done privately at 10 weeks and it came back low risk (<1:10000) for T21,18,13, but now of course I'm worried that might have been wrong... Did this happen to anyone else, and did it turn out ok??

Hiya

From everything I've read, the NIPT is so much more accurate than the combined screening. it looks at the babys DNA in your blood sample, to establish whether there is the presence of the extra chromosome(s) whereas combined screening is generated from age ,and levels of markers such as HCG which are far less reliable predictors of the 3 trisomies, which is why it is offered after the combined screening if it comes back high risk.

Hope that helps!

The NIPT will be accurate which is why they will send off for a NIPT as the first option if you come back higher risk. I wouldn't be at all worried in your position!

I was advised both times at my booking appointment that it wasn’t necessary to have the combined screening as I’d already had a low-risk NIPT back (with my fertility clinic) and being 39/40 the background risk would be relatively high and possibly trigger the NHS NIPT, as has happened to you. It’s very unlikely that the NIPT result will be different this time and it should be much more accurate for you than the screening

Thanks all this is very reassuring! @CharlotteYorkMacDougal I'm reassured to know that you were told to not even bother with the combined test because of your previous NIPT. I got my NIPT done with Ultrasound Direct and I guess I just worried that maybe the doctors thought that wasn't trustworthy enough or something, or that 12 weeks might show a different result than at 10 weeks... But perhaps they are just being ultra cautious.

It’s crazy they still did the combined test! I wouldn’t worry, given that the NIPT gave you low chance. It’s so easy for age to skew the figures, I don’t know why they don’t parachute everyone in their late 30s onwards to NIPT… (well, actually I do…it’s money, innit!)