CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) & Amniocentesis

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Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) and Amniocentesis

Mr Anoop Rehal, Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine performs CVS and Amniocentesis at MUMS Solihull to diagnose fetal abnormalities.

The choice to have the test is entirely the decision of the patient following thorough counselling with Mr Rehal.

A CVS can be performed from 11 to 14 weeks. An Amniocentesis can be performed from 15 weeks onwards.
 

Patients who qualify to have CVS or Amniocentesis at MUMS:

• Have a higher-than-average chance of giving birth to a child with a genetic abnormality – for example, sickle cell and cystic fibrosis
• The nuchal screening result is high risk and invasive testing such as Amnio or CVS is recommended
• Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) has indicated there is a high risk chance of Down’s syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau’s syndrome or other chromosome abnormality
• An abnormality has been detected in your baby during an ultrasound scan
• Maternal choice

Miscarriage risk is approximately 0.5% (1 in 200) for both CVS and Amniocentesis
 

CVS (Chorionic villus sampling)

CVS can be performed earlier than Amniocentesis. CVS can be performed between 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. CVS involves our Consultant in Fetal Medicine – passing a fine needle into the placenta. This is done via the uterus and is an ultrasound guided method. A small volume of cells are taken from the placenta.

If you were to miscarry due to the test, this would usually happen within the first 2 weeks after the procedure. In approximately 1% of cases the CVS test will need to be repeated because the results are inconclusive.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a medical procedure that can be performed from 15 weeks or pregnancy. Amniocentesis is used primarily in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infection.

An amniocentesis involves the Fetal Medicine Consultant obtaining a very small amount of amniotic fluid that contains fetal tissues. The amniotic fluid is within the sac that surrounds the developing fetus.

Costs

MUMS CVS and Amniocentesis Patient Information Leaflet provides much more detail about the test and the results.

The cost and turnaround times of CVS or Amniocentesis depends upon the chosen laboratory pathology.

• CVS/Amnio PCR Only £745.00 (3 working days turnaround)
• CVS/Amnio PCR and Culture £950.00 (10-14 working days turnaround)
• CVS/Amnio PCR and CGH £1200.00 (10 working days turnaround)
• CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell £2745.00 (7 working days turnaround) 
• CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell £945.00 (14 working days turnaround)
• CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell and PCR (for Downs, Edwards and Patau’s syndrome) £3240.00 (5 working days turnaround) 
• CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell and PCR (for Downs, Edwards and Patau’s syndrome) £1440.00 (14 working days turnaround) 
• CVS for Cystic Fibrosis £1595

For CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell 5-day turnaround – we require paternal and maternal blood tests.

For CVS/Amnio Sickle Cell 14-day turnaround – we require maternal blood tests.

To organise your CVS or Amniocentesis at MUMS call 0121 704 2669 or complete an online enquiry. We will organise for you to see Mr Anoop Rehal – Consultant in Fetal Medicine.

We offer consultations and scans and second opinions for those wishing to understand more about the risks and benefits of CVS and Amnio and their own individual circumstances.

Donna Drinkall manages this service at MUMS and can be contacted during office working hours.

We offer a pre-procedure consultation with Mr Rehal, Fetal Medicine Consultant - for those mums who wish to have a telephone or face to face discussion before booking the procedure. This costs £150.

In most cases – Donna Drinkall – Invasive testing co-ordinator – will contact you to run through a series of questions and information prior to the procedure.

Sickle cell disease

Women that are pregnant and have sickle cell may not experience any complications. However – if the father is a sickle cell carrier, the baby may be affected – as a sickle cell carrier or with a sickle cell trait. This

Pregnant women with sickle cell trait may not have any complications. But the baby may be affected if the father also carries the trait. If you have sickle cell trait, experts advise that your partner should be tested before you become pregnant. Or he should be tested at the first prenatal visit.

Chromosome abnormalities

CVS and Amniocentesis are diagnostic tests (unlike NIPT screening tests) we offer to check if your baby has a genetic or chromosomal condition, such as Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome.