Culture - amniotic fluid; Culture - amniotic cells; Alpha-fetoprotein - amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a test that can be done during pregnancy to look for these problems in the developing baby:
Amniocentesis removes a small amount of fluid from the sac around the baby in the womb (uterus). It is most often done in a doctor's office or medical center. You do not need to stay in the hospital.
You will have a pregnancy ultrasound first. This helps your health care provider see where the baby is in your womb.
Numbing medicine is then rubbed onto part of your belly. Sometimes, the medicine is given through a shot in the skin on the belly area.
Your health care provider inserts a long, thin needle through your belly and into your womb. A small amount of fluid (about 4 teaspoons) is removed from the sac surrounding the baby.
The fluid is sent to a laboratory. Testing may include:
Results of genetic testing usually take about 2 weeks. Other test results come back in 1 to 3 days.
Sometimes amniocentesis is also used later in pregnancy to:
Your bladder must be full for the ultrasound.
Before the test, blood may be taken to find out your blood type and Rh factor. You may get a shot of medicine called Rho(D) Immune Globulin (RhoGAM and other brands) if you are Rh negative.
Amniocentesis is usually offered to women who are at increased risk of having a child with birth defects. This includes women who:
Genetic counseling is recommended before the procedure. This will allow you to:
Amniocentesis can be used to diagnose many different gene and chromosome problems in the baby, including:
A normal result means:
Note: Even with normal amniocentesis results, a baby may still have genetic or other types of birth defects.
An abnormal result may mean your baby has:
Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results. Ask your provider:
Risks are minimal, but may include:
Simpson JL, Holzgreve W, Driscoll DA. Genetic counseling and genetic screening. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2012:chap 10.
Simpson JL, Richards DA, Otao L, Driscoll DA. Prenatal genetic diagnosis. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2012:chap 11.BACK TO TOP
Review Date: 9/26/2015
Reviewed By: Daniel N. Sacks MD, FACOG, obstetrics & gynecology in private practice, West Palm Beach, FL. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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