Amniocentesis involves the removal of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus (“bag of water”) with the use of a thin needle inserted through the mother’s abdomen and uterus. It is performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Ultrasound guidance is used throughout the procedure. The fluid is cultured and fetal chromosomes are examined and results are available in about 10 to 14 days.

This test is more than 99 percent accurate in diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities. Additional testing of the fluid can diagnose more than 98 percent of open neural tube defects.

The main risks to this procedure include complications leading to miscarriage in less than 0.5 percent (1 in 200 cases).

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Boyd, Brita K.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Brancazio, Leo R.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Brown, Haywood L.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • School of Nursing
• Ellestad, Sarah C.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Grotegut, Chad A.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Heine, R. Phillips
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Kuller, Jeffrey A.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Livingston, Elizabeth G.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Murtha, Amy P.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Rhee, Eleanor H.J.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Small, Maria J.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Swamy, Geeta K.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke OB-GYN Consultants
  2406 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607
• Duke Perinatal Consultants of Burlington
  Alamance Regional Medical Center , 1240 Huffman Mill Road, Burlington, NC 27715
• Duke Perinatal Consultants of Cary
  600 New Waverly Place, Suite 305, Cary, NC 27518
• Duke Perinatal Durham / Fetal Diagnostic Center
  Pavilion East at Lakeview, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27705