Updated Guidelines on Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling: Key Recommendations for Safe Prenatal Diagnosis

One of the key points highlighted in the guideline is the importance of informing patients about the risks of miscarriage associated with both procedures. When performed by appropriately trained operators, the risk of miscarriage following amniocentesis or CVS is generally below 0.5%, a reassuring statistic for most women. However, in cases of multiple pregnancies, such as twins, the miscarriage risk is around 1%, so this should be discussed with patients.

The guidelines stress that amniocentesis should not be performed before 15 weeks of gestation, while CVS should not be conducted before 10 weeks. The ideal time for CVS is between 11 and 13 weeks to minimize technical difficulties and ensure better sample collection. The guidelines also include a note on blood-borne viruses, advising that viral load and antigen test results should be reviewed before conducting invasive tests, and discussing the risk of viral transmission.

These updated guidelines ensure that both amniocentesis and CVS are performed safely and effectively, with clear patient counseling about their options. This evidence-based approach supports clinicians and pregnant women in making informed decisions about prenatal genetic testing.

The authors suggest that future research should focus on examining the rates of procedure-related pregnancy loss in multiple pregnancies, particularly considering chorionicity. Additionally, they recommend investigating the risk of mother-to-child transmission following invasive procedures during acute infections, such as Hepatitis C, to better understand the potential complications in these scenarios.

Reference:

Navaratnam, K., & Alfirevic, Z. (2021). Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 129(1), e1-e15. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16821