What is amniocentesis?
Amniocentesis is a test for pregnant women that looks at a sample of amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is a pale, yellow liquid that surrounds and protects an unborn baby throughout pregnancy. The fluid contains cells that provide important information about your unborn baby's health. The information may include whether your baby has a certain birth defect or genetic disorder.
Amniocentesis is a diagnostic test. That means it will tell you whether your baby has a specific health problem. The results are almost always correct. It's different from a screening test. Prenatal screenings tests pose no risk to you or your baby, but they don't provide a definite diagnosis. They can only show if your baby might have a health problem. If your screening tests were not normal, your provider may recommend an amniocentesis or other diagnostic test.
Other names: amniotic fluid analysis
