10 to 13 Weeks of Pregnancy
Click on a question to take you to the answer.
What is the Combined Blood Test?
What are the advantages of providing an advance blood sample?
How do I give an advance blood sample?
When should I give an advance blood sample?
What if I am unable to provide an advance blood sample?
When do I get the results of the Combined Blood Test?
When will I have the Nuchal Scan?
How do I book for the Combined Blood Test?
What is my next scan?
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What is the Combined Blood Test?
This blood test is only performed in combination with a Nuchal Scan in your first trimester.
In a unique service we ask all patients to provide an advance blood sample so that we can complete your Nuchal Scan and give you a final result on the day of your appointment.
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What are the advantages of providing an advance blood sample?
The advantages of providing your blood sample in advance are:
- You can give the sample at a time that is convenient for you
- There is no waiting for laboratory to produce the blood test results
- The blood test results will be ready when you attend your Nuchal Scan appointment
- You will receive the full answer for your Down Syndrome Risk at the time of your appointment
- Should you receive a high risk result you can discuss the results with our clinical staff
- Your appointment time will not be prolonged by waiting for the result of the screening
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How do I give an advance blood sample?
We have 3 convenient ways for you to give an advance blood sample:
- Visit our clinic before your appointment any time Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm at least 4 days before your scan. (walk in service - no booking required)
- Request a postal blood pack so you can have the sample taken locally and sent direct to the laboratory.* (Ideal if you live or work outside central London)
- Book a home or office visit and we come to you to take your advance blood sample. (Inside the M25 only. Additional cost of £85 on top of the laboratory charge)
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When should I give an advance blood sample?
You should provide and advance blood sample no earlier than 10 weeks gestation or no later than 4 days before your scan appointment. (Same Day Service excepted)
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What if I am unable to provide an advance blood sample?
If you are unable to provide an advance blood sample that doesn't mean you cannot have a Nuchal Scan at our clinic.
All that will happen is we will call you with the final result of your Nuchal Scan when the results from the laboratory are available. (minumum of 4 working days)
Why not try our Same Day Service? Arrive early in the morning to give a blood sample, spend the day at leisure in central London, and then attend your Nuchal Scan appointment in the afternoon or early evening.
This will allow time for the laboratory to process your Combined Blood Test and send us the results. You will receive your final Nuchal Scan result on the same day.
Please contact us in advance to arrange this option. (Not available on Mondays)
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When do I get the results of the Combined Blood Test?
If you provide an advance blood sample the results of the Combined Blood Test are available on the day of your Nuchal Scan appointment, however, there is no meaningful result from your blood test for you to read.
The data from the Combined Blood Test is fed into our computer and combined with your age and nuchal translucency measurement - hence the name Combined Test - to produce a numerical risk of your baby having Down Syndrome.
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When will I have the Nuchal Scan?
We will arrange your Nuchal Scan appointment at around 12 weeks gestation**.
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How do I book for the Combined Blood Test?
There is no need to make a booking to provide an advance blood sample. We operate a walk in service Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm.
Simply call bookings on 020 7935 4450 to let us know you are on your way in and we wil prepare the necessary paperwork.
For bookings information and prices please see our Prices page.***
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What is my next scan?
The next scan you should expect in your pregnancy after the Nuchal Scan is the 20 Week Anomaly Scan.
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*Your GP practice may charge a fee for taking your blood sample.
**The London Ultrasound Centre accepts no responsibility for the calculation of gestation dates. We are able to assist with the computation of the best time for your Nuchal Scan if you provide an Estimated Due Date (EDD) for your pregnancy or the date of the first day of your last period (LMP). If you are uncertain of your dates we strongly advise that you have an Early Pregnancy Scan to date your pregnancy before performing the Nuchal Scan. If we are unable to perform the Nuchal Scan because your baby is outside the acceptable range you will still have to pay in full for the service that you have booked.
***You must pay the laboratory charge at the time of booking as well as the scan booking deposit.
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