What is on chorionic villus sampling/cordocentesis?
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a diagnostic test which can tell you for certain whether your baby has Down’s syndrome or another genetic abnormality1. The test will not be able to diagnose spina bifida. It is carried out between 11 and 13+6 weeks of pregnancy. A fine needle is put through your abdomen and, using an ultrasound scan for guidance, the doctor removes a very small part of the placenta2. You have to wait about 10 days for the results. This means that if your baby has an abnormality and you want to terminate your pregnancy, you can do so well before you start to feel your baby kicking. Unfortunately, as with any other invasive test, the CVS carries a risk of miscarriage, of approximately 0.5 – 2%. Larger hospitals carrying out more than 100 CVS tests per year are more likely to have lower rates of miscarriage due to the opportunity of the doctors to fine tune their skills. Cordocentesis is also a ‘diagnostic test’, that is also known as fetal blood sampling or umbilical v
