The CVS test during pregnancy may be an optional pregnancy procedure that is used to diagnose certain genetic or chromosomal disorders in your developing baby.

But the procedure entails a detailed study of your developing placenta for certain abnormalities by performing a biopsy of the same. Let’s learn more about the CVS test and its importance in this blog post.

What is CVS used for?

Scheduled to happen in the first trimester of pregnancy, chorionic villus sampling may be used for genetic and chromosome testing. Here are some of the reasons why a woman might choose CVS:

• A previously affected child or a family history of a genetic disease, chromosomal abnormalities, or a metabolic disorder
• Maternal age greater than 35 years at the time of the pregnancy’s due date
• The possibility of a sex-linked genetic disease
• Previous ultrasound findings that were questionable or abnormal
• It is a typical cell-free DNA testing method

When can you have a CVS test done?

CVS is typically performed between the tenth and twelfth weeks of pregnancy. CVS, unlike amniocentesis, another type of prenatal test, does not detect neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

As a result, it is common that women who take up CVS require a follow-up blood test between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy to screen for neural tube defects.

Why is CVS important?

CVS can be performed early in pregnancy (before amniocentesis), and results are usually available within 10 days.

Obtaining this type of information early allows a woman to make decisions in the early stages of her pregnancy.

Benefits of CVS testing

CVS testing has several benefits:

You can rely on CVS test results to make important healthcare decisions because they are accurate.

You may be at a higher risk of having a child with a genetic disorder or other issues. If this is the case, you and your partner may want to know about the fetus as soon as possible. Having this information at your disposal can assist you in making the best healthcare decisions.

How accurate is CVS genetic test?

CVS is expected to provide a definitive result in 99 of every 100 women who have the test. However, it cannot test for every condition, and obtaining a conclusive result is not always possible.

CVS results cannot predict whether your baby will have the condition that the test is looking for in a small number of cases.

This could be because the number of cells removed was insufficient.

Or there may be a change in the structure of the chromosomes in the placenta but not in the baby. If this occurs, amniocentesis, an alternative test in which a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from the womb, may be required.

This is completed after a few weeks.

What are the alternatives to the CVS test?

Amniocentesis is a test that can be used instead of CVS.

A small sample of amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb, is removed for testing at this stage. It is usually performed between the 15th and 18th week of pregnancy, but it can be done later if necessary.

If you are offered tests to look for a genetic or chromosomal condition in your baby, a specialist involved in the testing will be able to discuss your options and assist you.

A message from the Jammi Scans

CVS testing, or chorionic villus sampling, is performed during pregnancy to determine if the fetus has certain genetic problems. You are not required to have CVS testing. If you choose to have it, it will take place when you are between 10 and 13 weeks pregnant.

The test is risk-free, causes little discomfort, and is extremely accurate. CVS testing results can assist you in making important healthcare decisions.

Consult your healthcare provider or visit us at Jammi Scans if you are at high risk of having a baby with a genetic condition. Our experts can advise you on whether CVS testing is appropriate for you.

Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans