A client who is 15 weeks pregnant comes to the clinic for amniocentesis. This test can identify which characteristic?

A client who is 15 weeks pregnant comes to the clinic for amniocentesis. This test can identify which characteristic?

• A. Neural tube defects
• B. Maternal blood type
• C. Chromosomal defects
• D. Sex of the fetus

Answer: (C)

Amniocentesis at 15 weeks provides fetal cells from the amniotic fluid that are used to analyze the fetal karyotype. This directly identifies chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomies and sex chromosome disorders, by examining the number and structure of chromosomes. While you can obtain information about neural tube defects by testing amniotic fluid AFP or acetylcholinesterase, and fetal sex can be inferred from the chromosomal analysis, the primary and most definitive use of amniocentesis at this gestational age is to detect chromosomal defects. Maternal blood type is determined from maternal blood, not from amniotic fluid.

Amniocentesis at 15 weeks provides fetal cells from the amniotic fluid that are used to analyze the fetal karyotype. This directly identifies chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomies and sex chromosome disorders, by examining the number and structure of chromosomes. While you can obtain information about neural tube defects by testing amniotic fluid AFP or acetylcholinesterase, and fetal sex can be inferred from the chromosomal analysis, the primary and most definitive use of amniocentesis at this gestational age is to detect chromosomal defects. Maternal blood type is determined from maternal blood, not from amniotic fluid.