Diagnostic Tests

Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS)
This procedure is performed in the first trimester of pregnancy and involves the withdrawal of a small amount of chorionic tissue (tissue from the placenta). The tissue is cultured and a karyotype analysis is performed.

Amniocentesis
This procedure is performed typically between 15-20 weeks of pregnancy. A small amount of amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the uterus and the fluid is tested for chromosome abnormalities.

Both CVS and amniocentesis are associated with a small risk of miscarriage