CVS Procedure

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a test performed at approximately 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy to determine whether the baby has certain genetic defects. The chorionic villus is placenta tissue. A small sampling is removed for biopsy in this type of testing, taken either through the cervix or the abdomen. Your doctor will carefully collect the sample from the placenta. Most patients report some discomfort and pressure, the procedure takes a few minutes.

While CVS is a common form of testing considered safe when administered by an experienced physician, it is associated with some risks. Potential complications of CVS may include miscarriage, bleeding, infection, membrane rupture and Rh incompatibility in the mother.

Conditions Tested

• Chromosomal Abnormalities (Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, Turner Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, etc)

• Single Gene Disorders (Tay Sachs, Sickle Cell, Cystic Fibrosis, Non-Syndrome Hearing Loss, etc.)

• Microdeletions or duplications (Williams Syndrome, DiGeorge Syndrome, etc.)