Choosing Your Prenatal Testing Option

This site has been designed to provide you with information about screening (non-invasive) and invasive confirmatory testing. These tests are provided to help identify the chance of chromosome conditions in your pregnancy.

It is recommended that you discuss your preferences with your healthcare provider or genetic counsellor to help make the best choice for you.

The chance of having a baby with a chromosome condition can be influenced by your age and, in some cases, family history.

As you get older, this chance may increase. Regardless of your age, there is always some chance for every pregnancy to be affected by a chromosome condition.

During the discussion with your healthcare provider, the following screening or invasive confirmatory testing options may be offered:

  • cell-free DNA or non-invasive prenatal screening (eg Harmony® Prenatal Test)
  • Traditional screening
  • Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
  • Amniocentesis
  • No screening/testing

Requiring just a sample of your blood, the Harmony non-invasive prenatal test screens for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13 with a further option for conditions caused by having an extra or missing copy of the X or Y chromosome. It can be performed any time after 10 weeks of pregnancy and is more accurate than traditional screening tests.1

To find out more about the Harmony Prenatal Test, other screening and confirmatory tests, and some biology behind chromosome conditions, please explore this site further, speak with your healthcare provider or click here to locate a clinic offering the Harmony test.

  1. Norton et al. N Engl J Med. 2015 Apr 23;372(17):1589-97