Nuchal Translucency Scan

A consultation includes obtaining pregnancy history as a baseline for assessing your baby’s growth and health, an ultrasound scan, a written report and a color photo of your baby all nicely presented in a folder. All the images and clips (silent) from the scan are sent via Tricefy. You can buy extra color photos at the price of dkk 20/pc. 3D and 4D when possible.

During a nuchal translucency scan, a risk assessment is performed to determine whether the fetus may have certain chromosomal abnormalities. This assessment is based on the mother’s age, the thickness of the nuchal fold, and the levels of pregnancy hormones in the mother’s blood (double test). All three factors are equally important to obtain the most accurate picture possible. Without the double test, the accuracy is approximately 70%. When the double test is included, the accuracy increases to about 95%. Therefore, at Spire, we do not perform risk assessments without the double test.

The chromosomal abnormalities screened for in the nuchal translucency scan are:

Trisomi 21 (Downs Syndrom)

Trisomi 18 ( Edwards Syndrom)

Trisomi 13 (Pataus Syndrom)

We measure the fetus and establish an estimated due date. We examine the fetus for major malformations and check for a heartbeat. We measure the nuchal translucency – a small fluid-filled space at the back of the neck that all fetuses have. A thickened nuchal fold increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities but must be assessed in conjunction with the double test and the mother's age.

Please note: The results from the scan are not uploaded to the national health record system (Sundhedsplatformen). You are responsible for sharing the results with your chosen place of birth.

Risk assessment for preeclampsia is not currently included in the NT-scan 

Occasionally, the fetus may be positioned in a way that makes it impossible to complete the scan. In such cases, we offer a free follow-up scan.

If the fetus turns out to be too early or too far along for the nuchal translucency scan—which can only be performed within a limited time frame—you will instead be charged for an Early Scan.

If you bring a blood sample that was taken too early (before week 8), a new sample will be required.

If there is an increased risk that the fetus may have a condition, we will assist in establishing contact with your maternity care provider—provided you have a Danish CPR number.

The double test is performed at Glostrup Hospital.
If possible, we recommend that you have the double test taken at least a couple of weeks before the scan. This helps avoid waiting time, as we can calculate the risk assessment immediately once the scan has been completed. You must be at least 8+0 weeks pregnant when the blood sample is taken. The cost of a test taken too early or too late (after 14+0) is non-refundable.

If you are unable to have the test taken in advance, it may take up to one week after the blood sample is taken before we can provide you with the result of the risk assessment. During holiday periods and public holidays, it may take longer.

If we are unable to give you the risk assessment in connection with the scan, you will be contacted by phone once we have received the result of the double test. The report from the nuchal translucency scan will then be sent to you via secure email.

You need to contact Glostrup Hospital yourself to book an appointment for the double test, but you must first contact us to receive guidance on how to book the appointment.

If you have already had a double test performed, you are welcome to bring the results with you, and we will use them in the calculation. This requires that it is clearly stated which KRYPTOR platform was used by the laboratory. For your information, the Brahms KRYPTOR platform is used in the vast majority of cases and in all cases within the Capital Region of Denmark. If you bring your own blood test results, the price of the blood test (DKK 600) will be deducted from the total price. You are responsible for presenting the correct values for the double test, and if the KRYPTOR platform is not specified, we will go by the Brahms KRYPTOR platform, with the associated risk that the calculation may not be accurate.

If you already know that you will be having your nuchal translucency scan with us, we recommend that you also have the double test performed through us, to be completely certain about the KRYPTOR platform used.

We do not perform nuchal translucency scans without a double test, as this would be meaningless, since the double test accounts for approximately one third of the overall risk assessment.

Occasionally, the fetus may be positioned in a way that prevents the scan from being completed. In such cases, we offer a free re-scan of up to 10 minutes.

Re-scans are offered on weekdays before 4 PM (subject to availability).

Re-scans are not available on weekends and cannot be booked online.
If you go into our booking system and change your re-scan to any other type of scan without prior agreement with us, you will be charged for the scan you have booked.