Safe Downs Syndrome Test

15th, Jan 2016

Pregnant women in the UK should soon get a safer and more accurate test for Down's syndrome on the NHS, to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

The move would prevent thousands of invasive procedures, in which one in every 200 women loses her baby. The test analyses tiny fragments of the baby's DNA that end up in the mother's blood, to look for abnormalities. Down's syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features. The NHS offers screening to women 11 to 14 weeks into their pregnancy.

To read the full story on BBC please click here.

3fivetwo Healthcare are delighted to have been the first in Ireland to offer the Harmony Prenatal Test. This service is now available to every pregnant woman with a singleton pregnancy who wants a safe, reliable, early and accurate test to verify that their baby has normal chromesomes.

The Harmony Prenatal Test will complement the comprehensive range of antenatal services currently available at 3fivetwo Healthcare. For further information on our antenatal packages, scans, tests and diagnostics, please visit our pregnancy page.

What is the Harmony Prenatal Test?

The Harmony Prenatal Test is a non-invasive maternal blood test that assesses the risk of fetal trisomies in pregnancies of 10 weeks or more. The test can confirm if your baby is chromosomally normal.

Research shows that the Harmony Test is more than 99+% accurate in verifying that the mother is carrying a chromosomally normal baby.

Is it suitable for me?

The Harmony Prenatal Test is suitable for every woman with a pregnancy of at least 10 weeks gestational age. The test can be performed at any stage from 10 weeks until term.

It is important to note that the Harmony Test can also be offered for all IVF singleton pregnancies.

The Harmony Test is not yet available for use in pregnancies with multiples such as twins.

Where can I get the Harmony Test?

The Harmony Prenatal Test is now available at 3fivetwo Healthcare on Belfast’s Lisburn Road. At your appointment, you will have a consultation, scan and a small blood sample will be taken.

You can arrange an appointment via our dedicated private patient booking team on 0845 6006 352 or by email to info@3fivetwo.com.

When will I get the results?

We will contact you directly with the results within 14-16 working days from the date of the test. Advice and counselling options will be provided for all patients and their partners.