Some centres report the use of ‘early amniocentesis’ as a diagnostic procedure (⩽15 weeks gestation), with the laboratories performing the greatest number of early amniocenteses accounting ...

CVS is usually done at 10 – 12 or 10 – 14 weeks, amniocenteses is usually done at 16 – 18 weeks. So many women who find out that they have a positive screen, or an increased risk for Down's ...

Figure 1. When prenatal testing for T21 began some 20 years ago, it was usually limited to women 35 years or older. Amniocentesis and karyotyping provided diagnostic tests. Today, maternal serum ...

This will significantly reduce the number of amniocenteses performed relative to the fetal abnormalities detected. The risk of fetal loss through invasive procedures also will be reduced.