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Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used for prenatal diagnosis, in
which a small amount of amniotic fluid is extracted from the amnion
around a developing fetus.
Amniocentesis can be done as soon as there is enough amniotic fluid
surrounding the fetus that a sample can be removed safely. This is
usually at about 14 weeks gestation, and is usually performed up to
about 20 weeks gestation.
Risks
Amniocentesis is slightly less risky to the child than chorionic
villus sampling although villus sampling can be done earlier.
Amniocentesis done in the second trimester is often said to have a
risk of fetal death between about 1/400 and 1/200.
Procedure
Amniotic fluid is often obtained using a long syringe, guided by
ultrasound. The syringe can be inserted through the mother's stomach,
and also at the end of the vagina, and amniotic fluid sucked out.
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Tests
In the amniotic fluid there are traces of the baby's skin and other
cells that have sloughed off the baby while it's growing. DNA from
these cells in the fluid are then analysed, usually to rule out
genetic abnormalities which could cause birth defects. This can be
cytogenetics or simply looking for abnormal genes. (A side effect of
cytogenetic analysis is determining the sex of the fetus, although
that is more commonly discovered through ultrasound.)
As well as genetic testing, levels of other substances, (such as
alpha-fetoprotein) can be measured to give an indication of the health
of the child.
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