Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

When should it be done? of Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is usually done at or after 15 weeks into the pregnancy, most commonly between the sixteenth and twentieth weeks. It can be done earlier than 15 weeks, but this is avoided if possible because of the greater risk of causing miscarriage or of producing club foot in the baby.

It can also be used in late pregnancy to assess for anaemia in babies with Rhesus factor disease.

Another diagnostic test, called chorionic villus sampling or CVS, can be carried out slightly earlier than amniocentesis (from about 10 weeks).  It carries the same level of risk but rather than testing the amniotic fluid, instead tests tissue from around the site of the placenta.

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