IMMUNOLOGY AND

IMMUNOTECHNOLOGY (19M11BT116)
PBL

AMNIOCENTESIS
By
PIYUSH KUMAR Submitted to:-
(20915021) Dr. RACHANA
M.SC MICROBIOLOGY 2nd
SEM
INTRODUCTION
• Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used primarily in prenatal diagnosis
of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections as well as for sex
determination. (1)

• Usually done when a women is between 16 to 22 months of pregnancy. (1)

• During this procedure, a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from the amniotic
sac (amnion) surrounding the unborn baby through a fine needle inserted
into the uterus through the abdomen, under ultrasound guidance and its
DNA is examined for abnormalities. (2)

• The amniotic fluid is a fluid which has the cells that the skin of the
developing baby has shed, as well as his/her waste products. (2)

• Each cell from the baby in the fluid contains their complete set of DNA
(genetic information). Analyzing these cells helps the doctors to access the
foetus’ health and detect any potential problem. (2)
 WHY ITS DONE? (3)
Amniocentesis can be done for various reasons:

• Genetic testing- Genetic amniocentesis involves taking a sample of amniotic

fluid and testing it for certain conditions, such as Down syndrome.
• Fetal lung testing- Fetal lung maturity testing involves taking a sample of
amniotic fluid and testing it to determine whether a baby's lungs are mature
enough for birth.
• Diagnosis of fetal infection- Occasionally, amniocentesis is used to evaluate
a baby for infection or other illness.
The procedure can also be done to evaluate the severity of anemia in babies
who have Rh sensitization — an uncommon condition in which a mother's
immune system produces antibodies against a specific protein on the surface
of the baby's blood cells.
• Treatment- If you accumulate too much amniotic fluid during pregnancy
(polyhydramnios), amniocentesis might be done to drain excess amniotic fluid
from your uterus.
• Paternity testing- Amniocentesis can collect DNA from the fetus that can
then be compared to DNA from the potential father.
WHO IS A CANDIDATE
FOR AMNIOCENTESIS?
• Any pregnant woman who, at her due date, will be 40 years
of age or older. (3)

• Any woman whose ultrasound results indicate a potential fetal

Chromosomal anomaly.(4)

• Any woman who has a family history or whose partner has a

family history of one or more incidents of chromosomal anomalies
or genetic disorders with a high recurrence risk. (4)

• It is also possible for women under the age of 40, with no history
of genetic disorder to have an amniocentesis; it is a matter of
personal choice. (3)
 PROCEDURE

Image source:- https://invitrobiotech.wordpress.com/tag/amniotic-fluid/

AFTER PROCEDURE (4)

• Adviced to rest for 24 hours

• No strenous work, excercise for 72 hours
• No air travel for 72 hours
• Seek urgent medical attention if –
 Feeling shivery.
 High fever of 38 degree celcius or above.
 Persistent lower back pain and abdominal pain.

• After the amniocentesis procedure, the sample of amniotic fluid will be

taken to a laboratory for testing.
• There are two different types of tests:
 a rapid test
 a full karyotype
RAPID TEST
• A rapid test looks for abnormalities on specific
chromosomes. (3)

• A rapid test can identify a number of chromosomal

conditions that cause physical and mental abnormalities.
These are:

• DOWN’S SYNDROME – caused by an extra chromosome 21.

• EDWARD’S SYNDROME – caused by an extra chromosome
18.
• PATAU’S SYNDROME – caused by an extra chromosome
13.

• The resulys of a rapid test should be ready after three

working days. The test is 100% accurate, but it only tests for
the three conditions listed above. (4)
 FULL KARYOTYPE
• Each cell in the body contains 23 pairs of chromosome. A full
karyotype checks all of these. (3)

• The cells in the sample of amniotic fluid are grown for upto 10
days in a laboratory before being examined under a microscope to
check for:
 the number of chromosome
 the appearance of the chromosome (3)

• Result from a full karyotype will usually be ready in two or three

weeks. In about 1 in every 100 tests, the result may not be clear.
This could be due to the mothers’ blood contaminating the sample
of amniotic fluid, which may have prevented the cells from
growing properly. (4)
 RESULT (5)
Amniocentesis results will either be positive or nrgative.
 RISKS (1)

Amniocentesis carries various risks, including:

•Leaking amniotic fluid- Rarely, amniotic fluid leaks through the vagina after
amniocentesis. However, in most cases the amount of fluid lost is small and
stops within one week, and the pregnancy is likely to continue normally.
•Miscarriage- Second-trimester amniocentesis carries a slight risk of
miscarriage — about 0.1 to 0.3 percent. Research suggests that the risk of
pregnancy loss is higher for amniocentesis done before 15 weeks of
pregnancy.
•Needle injury- During amniocentesis, the baby might move an arm or leg
into the path of the needle. Serious needle injuries are rare, however.
•Rh sensitization- Rarely, amniocentesis might cause the baby's blood cells to
enter the mother's bloodstream. If you have Rh negative blood and you
haven't developed antibodies to Rh positive blood, you'll be given an injection
of a blood product called Rh immune globulin after amniocentesis. This will
prevent your body from producing Rh antibodies that can cross the placenta
and damage your baby's red blood cells. A blood test can detect if you've
begun to produce antibodies.
•Infection- Very rarely, amniocentesis might trigger a uterine infection.
•Infection transmission- If you have an infection — such as hepatitis C,
toxoplasmosis or HIV/AIDS — the infection might be transferred to your
baby during amniocentesis.
References
• https://
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/amniocentesis/about/pa
c-20392914

• https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-amniocentesis#1

•https://
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/p
regnancy-tests-amniocentesis

•https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/amniocentesis-amniotic-flui
d-test
/

•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniocentesis
Thank you !