Nuchal translucency test

[OBonio]

My wife and I are wanting a nuchal translucency test but have been told we will have to have it done privately for between �100 and �150.  Other NHS trusts do it as standard along with the bloods.  Is this fair?  Can we be referred to another trust that does do them?  Not that I would mind paying, but just trying to explore options.

[TEAK36]

Are you sure other trusts give the test on the NHS.I was told they would only do it for free if you had previously had a child who had Downs Syndrome.I have 2 small children and we had to pay both times.The first time we went to a clinic in London which cost us �110, and the second time to a local Bupa hospital which cost �120.

[OBonio]

According to this (at the bottom):

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/544491.html

[l_h_kings]

Hi,

I changed hospitals during my first pregnancy (because I moved house). The first hospital (Bolton) offered this test routinely, but the second one (Blackburn) didn't. Having said that there were a lot of differences between the antenatal services at both hosptals; Bolton gave an early scan as well as a 20wk scan; and they would also have induced my overdue pregnancy at 7 days over, not 10.

It was optional as to whether i had the nuchal test or not, they made you an appointment; but said there's no need to cancel if you don't want it - just don't turn up on the day.

I did not have the Nuchal test done because i was told that there was a 1% chance of miscarriage; and would have loved my baby just as much if he did have downs; so it didn't seem important to me to know.

It seems unfair that i was given an appointment when I didn't even want the test, and you are having to pay for yours privately.

Good luck

[secretspirit]

It's quite rare to get nuchal translucency tests on the NHS I think. You're much more likely to get offered the 'triple test' blood test at 16weeks and then be offered an amnio if your results don't come back too good. You have to bear in mind though that the tests aren't 100% accurate. I declined them personally as I had enough to worry about but I understand anyone who does want that reassurance.