Chorionic villus sampling (synonyms: chorionic biopsy; villus skin test; placenta puncture; Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)) is the removal of tissue from the fetal (child) portion of the placenta. The tissue obtained is used to perform karyotyping/chromosome analysis in the laboratory
Indications (areas of application)
- Age over 35 years
- Abnormal first trimester screening (ETS; screening examination performed as part of prenatal diagnostics in the first trimester of pregnancy) or abnormal nuchal translucency measurement (accumulation of fluid under the skin of the fetal neck)
- Previous birth of a child suffering from a genetic defect or metabolic disease.
- Hereditary diseases in the family
- Hereditary metabolic diseases
- Congenital infections, i.e. infections acquired during pregnancy.
- Indication of child development disorders or malformations
- Suspicion of blood group incompatibility between mother and child.
- Lung maturity determination in the case of threatened premature birth.
The procedure
Chorionic villus sampling is offered in the first trimester (third of pregnancy), usually in the 11th-14th week of pregnancy and is the alternative to early amniocentesis (amniocentesis).
In this method, small portions of the placenta (here: trophoblast tissue) are removed via a catheter and examined by chromosome analysis. In this way, chromosomal changes (numerical and gross structural chromosomal aberrations), i.e. genetic diseases, can be detected if necessary.
Further areas of application are: Genetic diagnostics and biochemical diagnostics.
Potential complications
The rate of complications is circa 0.5-1.5%.
