In this Article

• What is amniocentesis?
• Who is a candidate for amniocentesis?
• What does amniocentesis show?
• When should amniocentesis be performed?
• Is amniocentesis safe?
• Amniocentesis At A Glance
• Amniocentesis Index

Amniocentesis At A Glance

• Amniocentesis may be performed for chromosome analysis or the detection of genetic defects and conditions in the fetus.
  
  
• Pregnant women over the age of 35 years are candidates for amniocentesis to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.
  
  
• Amniocentesis can also be used to determine the maturity of the lungs of the fetus or the cause of unknown fever in the mother.
  
  
• For genetic testing, chromosome analysis, and the evaluation of an abnormal alpha feto protein test, amniocentesis is usually performed between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.
  
  
• The risk of fetal loss from the amniocentesis procedure is less than 1%.

Reference: ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 88, Dec. 2007. Invasive Prenatal Testing for Aneuploidy. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Dec;110(6):1459-67.

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