Literature review

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2006, May 15). Chorionic villus sampling: Answers to common questions. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chorionic-villus-sampling/PR00145

This article presented information on: who may need a CVS test, when it is performed, what happens during the test, and what the results may reveal. Chorionic villus sampling is offered if a baby has an increased risk of chromosomal or genetic defects. Also, it is suggested if there is a concern over the first-trimester screening. For early detection of genetic disorders CVS is performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. During chorionic villus sampling a small sample of the chorion tissue is extracted from the placenta around the baby in the mother’s vagina either by means of transcervical or transabdominal incision. The results of CVS may be available anywhere from two days to two weeks after the procedure depending on the complexity of the lab analysis. There are only certain abnormalities CVS can detect yet the results can be life saving. But from these results, doctors can determine whether a baby has chromosomal disorders such as Down’s syndrome, Tay-sach’s disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Hemoglobinopathies. Also, the results can be used to determine paternity. Chorionic villus sampling is ninety-nine percent accurate. One of the only downfalls of this test is that it is not able to identify birth defects like spina bifida or other neural tube defects.