Question

What is amniocentesis, and what is it used for?

Answer 1

Amniocentesis

It is a prenatal test, in which a small amount of amniotic fluid which contains fetal tissue, removed from the sac surrounding the fetus.

Amniotic fluid is a clear, pale yellow coloured fluid, protects the fetus from injury and regulate the temperature of the fetus. The composition of amniotic fluid is various enzymes, proteins, hormones and other substances and cells shed by the fetus.

purpose

usually, perform between 15 to 20 weeks of gestation

• to find out genetic or chromosomal or metabolic disorder for those having the family history
• to assess neural tube defects
• maternal age more than 35 years
• any sex-linked genetic disease

if performed in the third trimester

• to assess fetal lung maturity when there is a risk for premature birth
• uterine infection
• Rh disease