EarlyReveal NIPT vs Harmony vs Panorama
A side-by-side comparison of the three most-asked-about non-invasive prenatal tests in Canada — what each one screens for, how they differ on accuracy and genomic coverage, and how to choose the right option for your family.
Learn About EarlyReveal NIPT See the ComparisonThe short version
All three tests use cell-free fetal DNA from a maternal blood sample to screen for chromosomal conditions. The differences come down to how much of the fetal genome is analyzed, what conditions are included, accuracy, turnaround time, and how the test is accessed.
Feature-by-feature comparison
The table below summarizes how the three options stack up across the dimensions families ask about most.
| Feature | EarlyReveal NIPTCanadian, private-pay | HarmonyRoche (Swiss); processed by Dynacare | PanoramaNatera (US); processed by LifeLabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest test week | 10 weeks | 10 weeks | 9 weeks |
| Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Trisomy 18 (Edwards) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Trisomy 13 (Patau) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Sex chromosome aneuploidies (Turner, Klinefelter, Triple X, Jacobs) | ✓ Included (standard tier) | + Add-on | ✓ Included |
| Trisomy detection beyond chromosomes 13/18/21 | ✓ Trisomy of ALL chromosomes (NIPT Plus) | ✗ Limited to T13, T18, T21 | ✗ Limited to T13, T18, T21 (+ triploidy) |
| Microdeletion screening | ✓ 5 microdeletions in NIPT Plus: 1p36, 4p-, 5p-, 15q11.2, 22q11.2 | 22q11.2 only (add-on) | 5 microdeletions: 22q11.2, 1p36, 5p-, Angelman, Prader-Willi |
| Genomic regions analyzed | Genome-wide (counting-based MPS across all chromosomes) | Targeted (DANSR — selected loci on chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, Y) | Targeted SNP-based (~13,000+ polymorphisms) |
| Optional fetal sex determination | ✓ Included | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
| Turnaround time | 3–5 business days | 7–10 days | 7–14 days |
| Private-pay cost (Canada) | From $475 (3 tiers: $475 / $600 / $675) | ~$795 | ~$695–$900 |
| Eligible for provincial coverage | ✗ Private-pay only | ✓ Yes (if eligibility criteria met) | ✓ Yes (if eligibility criteria met) |
| Ordering | Physician/midwife requisition | Physician/midwife order | Physician/midwife order |
| Sample processed in Canada by | EarlyReveal (100% Canadian-owned, Laval QC) | Dynacare (LabCorp subsidiary; US-owned) | LifeLabs (Canadian operations) |
What each test screens for in detail
EarlyReveal NIPT
- Trisomy of ALL chromosomes (NIPT Plus tier) — not limited to 13, 18, 21
- Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
- Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
- Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
- Monosomy X (Turner syndrome)
- XXY (Klinefelter), XXX (Triple X), XYY (Jacobs)
- 5 microdeletions (NIPT Plus): 1p36, 4p- (Wolf-Hirschhorn), 5p- (cri-du-chat), 15q11.2 (Prader-Willi/Angelman), 22q11.2 (DiGeorge)
- Baby's sex determination included at no extra cost
Harmony
- Trisomy 21, 18, 13
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies (optional add-on)
- 22q11.2 deletion / DiGeorge syndrome (optional add-on)
- Optional fetal sex determination
- Twin pregnancies supported
Panorama
- Trisomy 21, 18, 13
- Monosomy X (Turner), XXY (Klinefelter), XYY, XXX
- Triploidy
- 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge)
- Microdeletions: 1p36, 5p- (cri-du-chat), Angelman, Prader-Willi
- Identifies vanishing twin and zygosity in twin pregnancies
One thing all three share
- Detection rate >99% for trisomy 21
- False-positive rate under 0.1% for the common trisomies
- Non-invasive (maternal blood draw only)
- No miscarriage risk
- Screening, not diagnostic — high-risk results need confirmation
- Per Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) guidelines
The three options side by side
EarlyReveal NIPT
- Trisomy of ALL chromosomes in the NIPT Plus tier — not just T13, T18, T21
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies (Turner, Klinefelter, Triple X, Jacobs) included in the standard tier, not an add-on
- Faster results — 3–5 business days, the quickest of the three
- More affordable — entry price meaningfully below Harmony and Panorama
- 100% Canadian-owned, processed in Laval, Québec
- One Canadian source for at-home gender test + NIPT + clinical options
Harmony
- Standard panel covers fewer conditions than EarlyReveal NIPT
- Microdeletion screening limited to 22q11.2 — and only as an add-on
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies are an add-on, not standard
- Slower turnaround — typically 7–10 days
- Higher private-pay cost than EarlyReveal NIPT
Panorama
- Standard panel narrower than EarlyReveal NIPT Plus
- Slower turnaround — typically 7–14 days, longest of the three
- Higher private-pay cost than EarlyReveal NIPT
- US-based test manufacturer
Why families choose EarlyReveal NIPT
EarlyReveal NIPT uses a genome-wide cell-free DNA sequencing methodology, analyzing fetal DNA fragments from across all chromosomes rather than amplifying only pre-selected regions. The most meaningful consequence of this methodology is in the NIPT Plus tier: while Harmony and Panorama screen for trisomies on chromosomes 13, 18, and 21 only, EarlyReveal NIPT Plus screens for trisomies on ALL chromosomes — a broader screening scope no other commercial NIPT in Canada offers in its standard menu. All three platforms deliver detection rates above 99% for the common trisomies per peer-reviewed studies; the differentiator is in scope, not core accuracy.
EarlyReveal is also Canadian-owned and Health Canada MDEL-licensed, with samples processed at our Laval, Québec lab. And starting at $475, EarlyReveal NIPT is meaningfully more affordable than the major commercial alternatives — Harmony at roughly $795 and Panorama between $695 and $900. Like Harmony and Panorama, EarlyReveal NIPT is ordered through your physician, midwife, or OB — ask your healthcare provider for a requisition at your next prenatal visit.
Trade-off to know: because EarlyReveal does not hold a provincial laboratory billing number, EarlyReveal NIPT is offered as a private-pay test only. It is not eligible for OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, AHCIP, or other provincial-plan reimbursement. For families who qualify for publicly-funded NIPT, ordering Harmony or Panorama through your healthcare provider may be the more cost-effective option.
EarlyReveal NIPT options at a glance
EarlyReveal NIPT comes in three tiers. Choose based on how much screening coverage you want and whether you'd like to combine NIPT with our at-home early gender test.
EarlyReveal NIPT
- Trisomy 21, 18, 13
- Monosomy X (Turner)
- XXY (Klinefelter), XXX (Triple X), XYY (Jacobs)
- Baby's sex determination included at no cost
- From 10 weeks of pregnancy
EarlyReveal NIPT Plus
- Everything in the standard tier
- Trisomy of ALL chromosomes (not just 13/18/21)
- 5 microdeletions: 1p36, 4p- (Wolf-Hirschhorn), 5p- (cri-du-chat), 15q11.2 (Prader-Willi/Angelman), 22q11.2 (DiGeorge)
- From 10 weeks of pregnancy
EarlyReveal NIPT VIP Package
- At-home early gender test at 7 weeks
- Standard NIPT at 10 weeks
- Best value for combined screening
- Two tests, one package price
All tiers include shipping and access to financing options through Sezzle. Results in 3–5 business days.
Ready to order EarlyReveal NIPT?
Broader genomic coverage. Canadian-owned. Health Canada MDEL-licensed. Processed at our Laval, Québec lab. Ask your physician for a requisition.
Which test is right for your family?
The right choice depends on what you want screened, whether you qualify for public coverage, and what's most important to your family. A simple guide:
You should consider EarlyReveal NIPT if:
- You want the broadest available screening scope in a single test
- You don't qualify for publicly-funded NIPT and are paying privately anyway
- You prefer a genome-wide sequencing methodology over a targeted or SNP-based approach
- You're already using EarlyReveal's at-home gender test and want one Canadian source for your prenatal testing
- You want a Canadian-owned, Canadian-processed option (lab in Laval, Québec)
You should consider Harmony or Panorama if:
- You qualify for publicly-funded NIPT through your provincial plan (age 40+, prior abnormal screen, positive serum screen, etc.) — you'll be ordered Harmony or Panorama through the provincial laboratory
- Your physician or midwife recommends a specific panel based on your medical history
- You want a test with the longest peer-reviewed clinical track record (Harmony)
- You want SNP-based methodology with vanishing-twin and zygosity detection (Panorama)
Frequently asked questions
What does "trisomy of all chromosomes" mean — and why does it matter?
Most commercial NIPTs in Canada — Harmony and Panorama included — screen for trisomies on chromosomes 13, 18, and 21 only. The EarlyReveal NIPT Plus tier extends that screening to trisomies on all chromosomes. While rare autosomal trisomies are individually uncommon, the broader screening scope means a single NIPT Plus test can flag chromosomal abnormalities that other commercial NIPTs would not detect.
Is EarlyReveal NIPT more accurate than Harmony or Panorama?
All three tests deliver detection rates above 99% for the common trisomies (21, 18, 13) with false-positive rates under 0.1%, which is the established performance benchmark for NIPT. Peer-reviewed meta-analyses (Gil et al., 2017) have shown that detection rates for the common trisomies are not significantly different across NIPT methodologies. The meaningful difference between the three options is in methodology: EarlyReveal NIPT uses genome-wide cell-free DNA sequencing, Harmony uses targeted-region sequencing, and Panorama uses an SNP-based approach. Each has its own structural advantages.
Why is EarlyReveal NIPT private-pay only?
EarlyReveal does not currently hold a provincial laboratory billing number with OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, or other provincial plans. As a result, EarlyReveal NIPT is offered as a direct-pay test only. Families who meet provincial eligibility criteria for publicly-funded NIPT can ask their healthcare provider to order Harmony or Panorama through the provincial laboratory at no out-of-pocket cost.
Do I need a referral for EarlyReveal NIPT?
Yes. EarlyReveal NIPT requires a requisition from your physician, midwife, or OB — the same process used to order Harmony or Panorama. Ask your healthcare provider for a requisition at your next prenatal visit. (Note: this is different from EarlyReveal's at-home gender DNA test, which is ordered directly by you without a referral.)
Can I claim EarlyReveal NIPT through my private health insurance?
Some extended-health plans cover NIPT as an eligible expense, particularly when ordered for a clinical reason. Submit a pre-determination form to your insurer with the billing details from EarlyReveal before booking. EarlyReveal NIPT is also typically eligible for reimbursement through Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) and as a medical expense on your Canadian tax return.
What's the difference between SNP-based and counting-based NIPT?
Panorama uses a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) approach — it analyzes genetic variations between the parent and fetus. Harmony and many other NIPTs use a counting-based approach that compares the relative amount of DNA from each chromosome. Both methods are validated; each has clinical edge cases where one performs better than the other.
Can EarlyReveal NIPT detect microdeletions?
Yes — in the NIPT Plus tier ($600). The five microdeletions covered are: 1p36, 4p- (Wolf-Hirschhorn), 5p- (cri-du-chat), 15q11.2 (Prader-Willi / Angelman), and 22q11.2 (DiGeorge). By contrast, Harmony's microdeletion screening is limited to 22q11.2 as an add-on, and Panorama covers five microdeletions including 22q11.2, 1p36, cri-du-chat, Angelman, and Prader-Willi.
How early can I take each test?
Panorama is available from 9 weeks of pregnancy. EarlyReveal NIPT and Harmony are both available from 10 weeks. All three require enough fetal DNA in maternal blood for reliable results — testing before the threshold week risks an inconclusive result.
Can I do EarlyReveal NIPT and the at-home gender test together?
Many EarlyReveal families do exactly that. The at-home early gender DNA test is available from 7 weeks for early sex determination, while EarlyReveal NIPT is taken from 10 weeks for comprehensive chromosomal screening. The two products are complementary, not alternatives.
Need a refresher on what NIPT costs in Canada?
For a full breakdown of NIPT cost by province, OHIP/RAMQ eligibility criteria, and what's covered through your provincial plan, see our NIPT Cost in Canada — Provincial Coverage Guide.
Comprehensive prenatal screening from a Canadian lab
EarlyReveal NIPT offers broader genomic coverage than the major commercial NIPTs available in Canada — Canadian-owned, processed at our Health Canada MDEL-licensed Laval lab. Ask your physician, midwife, or OB for a requisition.
Order EarlyReveal NIPT See the At-Home TestMedically reviewed by Dr. Jad Jalal, registered with the Collège des médecins du Québec. Last reviewed 2026-05-28. This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalized medical advice. NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test — any high-risk result should be confirmed with diagnostic testing (chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis). Pricing, panel composition, and provincial coverage rules change frequently; confirm current information with your healthcare provider, the test manufacturer, or your provincial health plan before making any decisions. Harmony is a trademark of Roche; Panorama is a trademark of Natera; these products are referenced here for comparison purposes only. Sources: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) clinical practice guidelines on prenatal screening; manufacturer product specifications (Roche Harmony, Natera Panorama); Prenatal Screening Ontario; Programme québécois de dépistage prénatal (MSSS Québec).
