Amniocentesis
What Is Amniocentesis?
An amniocentesis is a prenatal test that allows your fetal medicine specialist to extract a sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus (baby in the uterus).
The amniotic fluid contains skin cells shed from the fetus and can diagnose chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
Amniocentesis produces a karyotype – a picture of the baby’s chromosomes – to determine any abnormalities. (In about 1 percent of cases, there’s a problem with the specimen, and the test doesn’t yield a result). Amniocentesis is usually done when a woman is between 16 and 20 weeks pregnant. Though all women have the option of having an amniocentesis, women for whom this test is recommended are often those at increased risk for genetic and chromosomal problems. The test is invasive and carries a small chance of miscarriage (0.5%)
The amniotic fluid contains skin cells shed from the fetus and can diagnose chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
Amniocentesis produces a karyotype – a picture of the baby’s chromosomes – to determine any abnormalities. (In about 1 percent of cases, there’s a problem with the specimen, and the test doesn’t yield a result). Amniocentesis is usually done when a woman is between 16 and 20 weeks pregnant. Though all women have the option of having an amniocentesis, women for whom this test is recommended are often those at increased risk for genetic and chromosomal problems. The test is invasive and carries a small chance of miscarriage (0.5%)
Best Amniocentesis Testing Center in Salem
Mediplus Scans offers amniocentesis services under the care of Dr Nivethitha Mediplus, who got trained under the pioneers of fetal medicine Dr. Suresh S., Dr. Indrani Suresh and Dr. Sudarshan Suresh -Mediscan systems ,Chennai . Here, we take the utmost care to keep yourself and your baby’s safety as our priority.
How Is Amniocentesis Performed?
The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes. Before the process, an ultrasound is done to measure the fluid around the fetus and check the basic anatomy.
The abdomen is cleaned with a sterile solution to minimize infection risk for the procedure itself. Then, ultrasound is used to pinpoint a pocket of amniotic uid safe from both the fetus and the placenta. This part can take up to 10minutes.
Then, under continuous ultrasound guidance, the doctor inserts a long, thin, hollow needle through the abdominal wall and into the sac which has the fluid surrounding the fetus. The doctor withdraws a small amount of the fluid and then removes the needle. Sometimes, not enough fluid is removed the first time the needle is inserted. If this happens, the needle will be inserted again. Withdrawing the fluid can take a few minutes but usually takes less than 30 seconds.
The fetus will make more fluid to replace what’s taken out. The amniotic fluid, which contains cells shed by the baby, is sent to the laboratory for analysis. The first level of reporting (initial confirmation) will be available in 5 to 7 days, and the final report will be available in 4 weeks.
The genetic tests results turn around time may differ depending upon the nature of the type we perform which depends on the clinical indication. After the procedure , we ask the pregnanct women to take bed rest for 2 -3 hours. After checking the fetal heart beat , the pregnant women can go home .
The abdomen is cleaned with a sterile solution to minimize infection risk for the procedure itself. Then, ultrasound is used to pinpoint a pocket of amniotic uid safe from both the fetus and the placenta. This part can take up to 10minutes.
Then, under continuous ultrasound guidance, the doctor inserts a long, thin, hollow needle through the abdominal wall and into the sac which has the fluid surrounding the fetus. The doctor withdraws a small amount of the fluid and then removes the needle. Sometimes, not enough fluid is removed the first time the needle is inserted. If this happens, the needle will be inserted again. Withdrawing the fluid can take a few minutes but usually takes less than 30 seconds.
The fetus will make more fluid to replace what’s taken out. The amniotic fluid, which contains cells shed by the baby, is sent to the laboratory for analysis. The first level of reporting (initial confirmation) will be available in 5 to 7 days, and the final report will be available in 4 weeks.
The genetic tests results turn around time may differ depending upon the nature of the type we perform which depends on the clinical indication. After the procedure , we ask the pregnanct women to take bed rest for 2 -3 hours. After checking the fetal heart beat , the pregnant women can go home .
