title: Techniques for early diagnosis of the abnormal fetus.
abstract: The phenomenal developments in molecular genetics and technological refinements which have occurred over the past decade are revolutionizing the area of prenatal genetics. State-of-the-art care commences with comprehensive preconceptional counseling. Prenatal diagnosis is now feasible from the moment of conception onward. Imaging techniques have allowed non-invasive diagnosis while minimally invasive techniques concentrate on sampling maternal blood for fetal cells or markers of feto-placental metabolism. Invasive techniques are rapidly expanding and becoming safer, comprising of chorionic villus sampling, early amniocentesis, midtrimester amniocentesis as well as very early fetoscopy and umbilical vein sampling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plouffe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donahue
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods