CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) & Amniocentesis

CVS & Amniocentesis

Mr Anoop Rehal, Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust – performs CVS and Amniocentesis at MUMS Solihull to diagnose fetal abnormalities.

The choice to have the test is entirely the decision of the patient following thorough counselling with Mr Rehal.

A CVS can be performed from 11 to 14+1 weeks. An Amniocentesis can be performed from 15 weeks onwards.

CVS ( Chorionic villus sampling )

CVS can be performed earlier than Amniocentesis. CVS can be performed between 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. CVS involves our Consultant in Fetal Medicine – passing a needed into the placenta. This is done via the uterus and is an ultrasound guided method. A small volume of cells are taken from the placenta.

Patients who qualify to have CVS at MUMS:

• Will have been offered CVS if they have a higher than average chance of giving birth to a child with a genetic abnormality
• The Nuchal Screening result is high risk and invasive testing such as Amnio or CVS is recommended
• NIPT testing has indicated there is a chance of Down’s syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau’s syndrome or other chromosome abnormality
• An abnormality has been detected in your baby during Ultrasound Scan

Miscarriage risk is approximately -.5% ( 1 in 200 ) with CVS which is pretty much the same for amniocentesis.

If you were to miscarry due to the test, this would happen within the first 2 weeks of the procedure. In approximately 1% of cases the CVS test will need to be repeated because the results are inconclusive.

AMNIOCENTESIS

Amniocentesis is a medical procedure that can be performed from 15 weeks or pregnancy. Amniocentesis is used primarily in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infection.

An Amniocentesis involves the Fetal Medicine Consultant obtaining a very small amount of amniotic fluid that contains fetal tissues. The amniotic fluid is within the sac that surrounds the developing fetus.

Patients who qualify to have Amniocentesis at MUMS:

• Will have been offered amniocentesis if they have a higher than average chance of giving birth to a child with a genetic abnormality
• The Nuchal Screening result is high risk and recommended invasive testing such as Amnio or CVS is recommended
• Where NIPT has indicated there is a chance of Down’s syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau’s syndrome or other chromosome abnormalities
• An abnormality is detected in your baby during Ultrasound Scan

The risk of miscarriage due to amniocentesis is about 0.5% (1:200) If you were to miscarry due to the test, this would happen within the first 2 weeks of the procedure.

Costs

MUMS CVS and Amniocentesis Patient Information Leaflet provides much more detail about the test and the results.

The Cost of CVS or Amniocentesis is £695.00

Additional costs will apply where there is additional chromosome abnormality laboratory analysis – dependent upon individual cases and the suspected abnormality.

If you have had Nuchal Screening/NIPT or an Ultrasound at MUMS which shows you may require invasive testing such as Amnio or CVS then this will be offered to you.

To organise your CVS or Amniocentesis at MUMS call 0121 704 2669 or complete an online enquiry. We will organise for you to see Mr Anoop Rehal – Consultant in Fetal Medicine.