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Here you will find a breakdown of your options for the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test) in British Columbia: Panorama or Harmony.
For more information about prenatal genetic screening options in BC, please visit the Perinatal Services BC Website by clicking HERE.
Lifelabs Panorama
Panorama™ NIPT is appropriate for singleton or twin pregnancies, as well as singleton pregnancies conceived using egg donors or surrogates. This test is not informative in pregnancies with 3 or more fetuses, nor for women who have had a bone marrow transplant or organ transplant.
Patient Pamphlet: https://www.lifelabsgenetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Panorama-Patient-Brochure.pdf
Cost:
· Basic Panel: $550 Trisomy 21, 18, 13, Monosomy X, sex chromosome trisomies, triploidy, complete molar pregnancy and fetal sex (optional)
· Extended Panel: $745 Basic Prenatal Panel, plus 22q.11.2 [DiGeorge Syndrome]
· Full Prenatal Panel: $795 Basic Prenatal Panel, plus 5 microdeletions (22q.11.2 [DiGeorge syndrome], 1p36 deletion syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Cri-du-chat syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome)
Syndromes tested: Trisomy 21 ( Down Syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome), Trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome), Monosomy X (Turner Syndrome), and sex chromosome trisomies.
Add-On Options: Fetal sex (no charge), extended/microdeletion panels (22q11.2 deletion/DiGeorge, Prader-Willi, Angelman, Cri-Du-Chat, 1p36 deletion)
Where to get it done: any Lifelabs location
How early it can be done: >9+0 weeks
Length of time for results: within 7-10 days of being received in the lab
Twins: Yes. Can tell you if twins are identical or fraternal, and report the sex of each fetus. For identical twins, can detect sex chromosome trisomies, monosomy X, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome for each twin.
How to order: Ask your midwives for a requisition. You will also need to print and fill the payment form to accompany your requisition at the lab.
Payment Form: https://www.lifelabsgenetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Panorama-Private-Pay-Paymt-Form.pdf
Genetic Counsellor contact: 1-84-GENE-HELP (1844-363-4357)
More info/FAQ: https://www.lifelabsgenetics.com/resources/faq/
Accuracy: https://www.lifelabsgenetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Detail-Aid-Panorama.pdf
Dynacare Harmony
The Harmony NIPT can screen for genetic abnormalities even if twins are expected or if fertility treatment has been used including IVF (in vitro fertilization), donor sperm, or surrogacy. Patients with a twin pregnancy are not eligible for monosomy X, sex chromosome aneuploidy or 22q11.2 options. The Harmony Prenatal Test is not for patients with a history of or active malignancy; a pregnancy with fetal demise; a pregnancy with more than two fetuses; or a history of bone marrow or organ transplants.
Patient Pamphlet: https://www.dynacare.ca/DYN/media/DYN/eng/Whats%20Next/Harmony-Brochure-EN-2017DE20.pdf
Cost (UPDATED AS OF JULY 2023):
· Basic Panel: $299 Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 and 13, and sex chromosome abnormalities (X & Y Chromosomes).
· Extended Panel: $299 (no extra charge) Basic panel + 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
· Free ONLY if you have a positive publicly-funded SIPS/IPS/QUAD screen. Funded NIPT collection sites: http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/Documents/Screening/Prenatal-HCP/NIPTListFunded.pdf
Syndromes tested: Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), sex chromosome abnormalities.
Add-On Options: Fetal sex (no charge), 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (no charge)
Where to get it done: Here are a few locations that are most relevant to patients. You can also request the full brochure of locations from admin for Vancouver Coastal Health or Fraser Health when you get your NIPT Requisition.
Vancouver Coastal Health Locations:
BC Women’s Hospital (4480 Oak Street, Vancouver)
Lions Gate Hospital (231 East 15th Street, North Vancouver)
St Paul’s Hospital Laboratory (1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver)
UBC Hospital Laboratory (2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver)
Vancouver General Hospital Outpatient Lab (275 Laurel Street, Vancouver)
Fraser Health Locations:
Jim Pattison Outpatient care and Surgery Centre (9750 140th Street, Surrey)
Surrey Memorial (13750 96th Avenue, Surrey)
Royal Columbian Hospital (330 East Columbia Street, New Westminster)
How early it can be done: >10+0 weeks
Length of time for results: 7-10 business days
Twins: Yes
How to order: Ask your midwives for a requisition. You will also need to print and fill the payment form to accompany your requisition at the lab.
Online Payment Link:
Dynacare Plus Link: https://shop.dynacareplus.com/harmony-non-invasive-prenatal-test-nipt-with-22q11-2-screening-bc.html
Important Notes: Dynacare Plus lists the test as “Harmony NIPT with 22q11.2”. This means there is no extra charge for 22q11.2, but it is not automatically included in the test. If you would like this addition to your test report please let us know so we can mark it off for you. When creating your account please use information that matches the requisition and your government ID, ie. your legal name.
Genetic Counsellor contact: 1-888-988-1888
Accuracy: “Harmony has a less than 0.1% false-positive rate for trisomies 21, 18 and 13. This means fewer than 1 in 1,000 Harmony tests yields a false-positive result.”
Invitae
NOTE: As of January 22nd, 2024, Invitae was acquired by Natera. As a result, Invitae’s NIPT will no longer be available after February 15th, 2024. Natera’s own NIPT test is Panorama, which is already available in Canada through Life Labs (see above). Please contact your care provider about any questions you may have about this change.
Invitae NIPT can screen for fetal chromosomal abnormalities as early as 10 weeks for patients pregnant with singleton or twin pregnancies. Invitae uses whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology to quickly analyze cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and identify pregnancies at an increased risk for trisomy 21, trisomy18 and trisomy 13. Analysis of sex chromosomes and five microdeletion syndromes can be added for singleton pregnancies. Invitae NIPS can be ordered for those with a history of maternal malignancy and/or organ transplant or bone marrow transplant, though these samples may have an increased risk for inaccurate results or test failure. Invitae NIPS cannot be ordered for triplet (or higher multiple) pregnancies, miscarriage or pregnancy with a known fetal demise. Vanishing twin pregnancies can still use Invitae with the knowledge that vanishing twin can affect the sensitivity and specificity of NIPS for the remaining fetus and may result in false positive or false-negative results.
Patient Pamphlet : https://view.publitas.com/invitae/b144_invitae_nips_patient_brochure/page/1
Informed Consent Information: https://view.publitas.com/invitae/fm173_invitae_nips-carrier_patient_informed_consent/page/1
Cost:
· Basic Panel: $225 USD.
· Microdeletion Panel: $425 USD Basic panel + Prader-Willi/Angelman (15q11.2-15q13.1), 1p36 deletion (1p36.3-1p36.2), 22q11.2 deletion/DiGeorge (22q11.2), Wolf-Hirschhorn (4p16.3-4p16.2), Cri-du-chat (5p15.3-5p15.1)
Syndromes tested: Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome), Trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome)
Add-On Options: Fetal sex (no charge), sex chromosome aneuploidies (no charge).
Microdeletion Panel add-on ($425 USD) includes:
Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) plus screening for 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge syndrome)
Optional add-on microdeletions (1p36 deletion, Prader-Willi/Angleman, Cri-du-chat, Wolf-Hirschhorn)
Optional rare autosomal trisomies (chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22)
Optional sex chromosome aneuploidy analysis
Option to report predicted fetal sex
Where to get it done: Blood drawn at Coverdale Infusion Clinic in Vancouver
How early it can be done: >10+0 weeks
Length of time for results: 5-7 days after sample arrives at San Francisco lab
Twins: Yes. Y chromosome analysis can also be included to determine if at least one twin is male. However, the presence of the Y chromosome cannot differentiate between one male twin or two male twins.
How to order: Ask your midwife to complete a requisition and fax it to Invitae. Invitae will contact you via email to pay for the test. Bring a printed copy of the requisition to City Centre Urgent Primary Care Centre at 1290 Hornby St (ph: 604-416-1811) Monday-Friday. Ask for the lab - don’t wait in line for the clinic. Arrive before 12pm on Fridays.
Genetic Counsellor contact: 1-800-436-3037
Accuracy: “Invitae’s extensive validation of our non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) method, based on whole genome sequencing, showed ≥99% accuracy for common aneuploidies, microdeletions, and fetal sex prediction, offering a comprehensive and accurate NIPS option as early as 10 weeks.”