Want the earliest possible test?
Choose Panorama, the only NIPT you can have from 9 weeks. It also reports triploidy — a rare chromosomal condition where there is a whole extra set of chromosomes — which most tests do not.
Which NIPT test is best?
Panorama · Unity · PrenatalSAFE · SMART Test
With Harmony now discontinued in much of the UK, choosing the right NIPT can feel confusing. We offer every leading test, so we have no reason to push one over another. This guide compares them honestly on what actually matters: accuracy, how early you can test, what each screens for, turnaround and price.
Prefer to talk it through? Book genetic counselling or see our full NIPT prices.
Available atLPC City (E1)LPC West (SW10)
Side by side
NIPT tests compared
All of the tests below are highly accurate for Down’s syndrome (over 99% detection), with high but slightly lower detection for Edwards’, Patau’s and the sex-chromosome conditions. They differ mostly in how early you can test, what else they screen for, and price. Remember that NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic one: a high-chance result does not confirm that your baby has the condition and should be followed by a diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis.
| Test | From | Screens | Turnaround | Price (incl. scan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unity NIPT | 10 weeks | Down's/Edwards'/Patau's + sex chromosomes | 3–5 days | £490 |
| PrenatalSAFE | 10 weeks | Down's/Edwards'/Patau's (+ fetal sex) | 2–4 days | £540 |
| Panorama | 9 weeks | Down's/Edwards'/Patau's, triploidy + sex chromosomes | 5–7 days | £590 |
| Extended Panorama | 9 weeks | + 22q11.2 & 5 microdeletions | 7–10 days | £790 |
| Unity Complete | 10 weeks | + carrier status for up to 14 inherited conditions (incl. cystic fibrosis, SMA, sickle cell, thalassaemia, Fragile X, Tay-Sachs) | 7–10 days | £990 |
| SMART Test KNOVA | 10 weeks | Genome-wide screening | 7–10 days | £990 |
Panorama can be performed from 9 weeks — earlier than any other NIPT. All prices include an ultrasound scan and specialist review.
Our impartial view
How to choose the right NIPT
There is no single "best" test — only the best test for your situation. As a rule of thumb:
Want a straightforward, cost-effective screen?
A basic test such as Unity NIPT or PrenatalSAFE covers the main trisomies and sex chromosomes from £490.
Want the widest reassurance?
Add screening for microdeletions — tiny missing pieces of a chromosome that can affect a baby’s development — with Extended Panorama, or go genome-wide with the SMART Test KNOVA.
Have a twin pregnancy or previous concern?
Some tests perform differently in twins. Book genetic counselling and we will recommend the right option for you.
The LPC difference
Why the scan matters as much as the test
Whichever NIPT you choose, a blood test can only tell you so much. Chromosomal conditions are just one part of the picture — many important findings are structural and only visible on ultrasound.
That is why every NIPT here includes a scan, and why, if you are in London, we recommend our 10-week anomaly scan: our specialists can examine your baby’s developing anatomy at the same time as the blood test. If you are elsewhere in the UK, our NIPTs are available at 200+ partner clinics through Jeen Health.
Choosing an NIPT — common questions
What replaced the Harmony test?
Harmony has been discontinued in much of the UK. Comparable and often more advanced alternatives include Panorama, Unity, PrenatalSAFE and the SMART Test — all of which we offer.
We keep a dedicated guide to the Harmony test alternatives with a like-for-like mapping of what to choose instead.
Harmony's own laboratory, TDL in London, has itself moved on to a modern Illumina assay: TDL VeriSeq V2. Because it comes from the same UK lab, it is the closest thing to a direct successor — a basic screen covering Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes (plus optional fetal sex) with results in 2–4 working days, £540 including your scan.
Which NIPT is the most accurate?
For Down's syndrome, all leading NIPTs achieve over 99% detection, so accuracy is rarely the deciding factor; detection is high but slightly lower for Edwards', Patau' and the sex-chromosome conditions. What differs is how early you can test, what else is screened, and how often a test cannot give a clear answer and needs repeating (the “no-call” rate). Whichever test you choose, NIPT is a highly accurate screening test rather than a diagnostic one — a high-chance result should always be confirmed with a diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis. See the comparison table.
Accuracy claims are easy to misread — our guide to understanding your NIPT results explains sensitivity, PPV and what a high-chance result really means.
Which NIPT can I have earliest?
Panorama can be performed from 9 weeks — earlier than any other NIPT. Most others start from 10 weeks.
Can you help me decide?
Yes. Our team offers impartial genetic counselling because we provide every test — book a consultation and we will match the right NIPT to your needs.
I’m not based in London — can I just do the NIPT without a scan?
Not through London Pregnancy Clinic — every NIPT we offer includes an expert ultrasound scan. The scan confirms your pregnancy is viable, dates it accurately and checks it is suitable for testing, which is why we do not offer the blood test on its own.
If you cannot get to our London clinic, our partner Jeen Health offers NIPT across the UK. You will need to provide proof of a pregnancy scan taken within the last 7 days before your blood sample is taken.
Get in touch
Not sure which NIPT to choose?
Sources & clinical references
The figures and clinical statements on this page are drawn from the sources below. Guidance evolves — always discuss your individual circumstances with a clinician.
- NHSScreening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome2024
- Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol (via PubMed)Analysis of cell-free DNA in maternal blood in screening for aneuploidies: updated meta-analysis2017
- GOV.UK (NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme)Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome2021