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CSF Analysis
Another article, Follow That Sample, provides a glimpse at the collection and processing of a blood sample and throat culture.
Procedure
Before the actual procedure, a local anesthetic is sometimes given to relieve the pain when
inserting the needle used to withdraw the fluid. A needle is usually inserted through the mother's
abdominal wall through the wall of the uterus into the amniotic sac. With the aid of ultrasound-
guidance, a physician aims towards an area of the sac that is away from the fetus and extracts
approximately 20ml of amniotic fluid for testing. The puncture heals, and the amniotic sac
replenishes the liquid over a day or so. After the amniotic fluid is extracted, the fetal cells are
separated from it. The cells are grown in a culture medium, then fixed and stained. Under a
microscope the chromosomes are examined for abnormalities. The most common abnormalities
detected are Down syndrome, Edward syndrome [Trisomy 18] and Turner syndrome [Monosomy
X]. Amniocentesis is most safely performed after the 14th-16th week of pregnancy, does not
need to be done before then due to risk it can do to the babys limbs. Usually genetic counseling
is offered prior to amniocentesis.
[edit] Risks
Although the procedure is routine, possible complications include infection of the amniotic sac
from the needle, and failure of the puncture to heal properly, which can result in leakage or
infection. Serious complications can result in miscarriage. Other possible complications include
preterm labor and delivery, respiratory distress, postural deformities, fetal trauma and
alloimmunisation (rhesus disease). Studies from the 1970s originally estimated the risk of
amniocentesis-related miscarriage at around 1 in 200 (0.5%).[2] A more recent study (2006) has
indicated this may actually be much lower, perhaps as low as 1 in 1,600 (0.06%).[2] In contrast,
the risk of miscarriage from chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is believed to be approximately 1
in 100, although CVS may be done up to four weeks earlier, and may be preferable if the
possibility of genetic defects is thought to be higher [3].
Amniocentesis and stem cells
Recent studies discovered that in amniotic fluid there are a lot of multipotent stem cell,
mesenchymal, hematopoietic, neural,epithelial and endothelial stem cell[1][2][3]. A potential
benefit of using amniotic stem cells over those obtained from embryos is that they side-step
ethical concerns among pro-life activists by obtaining pluripotent lines of undifferentiated cells
without harm to a fetus or destruction of an embryo.
Artificial heart valves, working tracheas, as well as muscle, fat, bone, heart, neural and liver cells
have all been engineered through use of amniotic stem cells [4]. Tissues obtained from amniotic
cell lines show enormous promise for patients suffering from congenital diseases/malformations
of the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and cerebral tissue
Rujukan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniocentesis