BIOLOGY INVESTEGATORY

PROJECT
2024-2025
Topic : AMNIOCENTESIS

Submitted by :
Tanushree.S
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone
who has contributed to the completion of this project:
AMNIOCENTESIS
First and foremost, I want to thank my teacher, Kavya
ma’am, for their continuous guidance, encouragement, and
expertise. I am grateful for the knowledge and skills I have
gained under her mentorship.
I want to thank my school principal Sumedh sir,for giving me
this golden opportunity to working on this project.
I am grateful to my friends and parents for their unwavering
support in completion of this project.
I would also like to acknowledge the assistance provided by
the school administration and staff. Their cooperation and
provision of resources have greatly contributed to the
successful execution of this project.
Lastly, I am deeply grateful for the collective efforts and
support of everyone involved in this school project. Thank
you all for your valuable contributions and for making this
project a fulfilling and enriching experience.
 CONTENT

Page Topics
no.
2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

3 CONTENT
4 AMNIOCENTESIS
5 AMNIOTIC FLUID
6 SIGNIFICANCE OF AMNIOCENTESIS
7 PROCEDURE OF AMNIOCENTESIS
8 RESULT AFTER TEST
9-12 RISK INVOLVED IN AMINOCENTESIS

13 CARE AFTER AMINOCENTESIS

14 BAN OF AMINOCENTESIS
15 CONCLUSION

16 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 AMNIOCENTESIS

A procedure
performed usually
in the beginning
of
pregnancy to detect
chromosomal
abnormalities in
the
 foetus.
 A procedure performed usually in the beginning of
pregnancy to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

 Usually done
when a women
is between 16
to 22
 weeks of

pregnancy.
It is usually done when a woman is between 15 to 20 weeks
of pregnancy.
 There is risk of fetal injury or preterm delivery in performing
this procedure.
 The indications for this procedure are:
 1. Maternal age
2. Bad obstetric history
3. Cytogenetic analysis
 During this procedure a sample of amniotic fluid is taken
from the amniotic sac (amnion) surrounding the fetus and
its DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities.
 The entire amniocentesis appointment lasts approximately 45
minutes–most of which involves a detailed ultra sound
examination.

 The amniotic
fluid- has skin
 cells of the
developing
 body, as well as
his/her waste
products like
urine.
 Each cell from
the baby in
 fluid contains
their
 complete set of
DNA (genetic
information).
Analyzing
 these cells helps
the doctors
 access the foetus
health
 and detects any
potential
problems.
AMNIOTIC FLUID
 Amniotic fluid – It is a clear, watery fluid (98%) and contains
2% solids (inorganic salts, urea, proteins, sugars).
Source : Fetal/maternal/both
Amount : 10th-20th week – 400ml
Increases upto 6th month,then decreses.
At 28th week it is 800ml and at term it is 400ml.
 Amniotic fluid has skin cells of the developing body, as
well as fetal waste products like urine. Each cell from the
baby in fluid contains their complete set of DNA (genetic
 information). Analyzing these cells helps the doctors access
the fetus health and detect any potential problems.
 Amniotic fluid is collected either through cervix or anterior
abdominal wall.

Umbilical cyst Amniotic fluid

Why is Amniocentesis performed?

The amniocentesis is performed to check:

 If the karyotype (the chromosomes) of the baby is (are)

normal
 If there is evidence of a neural tube defect (spina bifida
or open spine)
 If there is evidence that the baby might have had an
infection
 If the lungs of the baby are ready to breathe.
Significance of amniocentesis-
 If any congenital disorders are found in the developing
fetus, then the mother can opt for abortion, for the
betterment of both mother and the unborn baby.
 Parents can know about the baby’s health conditions
before its birth.
 Any kind of metabolic disorder like deficiency of enzyme,
protein, etc. can be assessed and addressed accordingly.

Procedure of Amniocentesis
1. The patient is made to lie down on the table and asked to
place the hands behind the head.
2. The blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate are
checked.
3. An ultrasound is performed to scan the heart rate of the
fetus, position of the placenta, fetus, umbilical cord and
locate the pocket of amniotic fluid.
4. The abdomen is cleansed with an antiseptic and is injected
with anesthesia.
5. A long, thin, hollow needle is inserted into the uterus to
collect the amniotic fluid.
6. The collected fluid is placed in a light protected container.
7. The heart rate of the fotus and the patient are reassessed.
8. The collected fluid is sent to the laboratory for
examination.
 RESULT AFTER TEST
After amniocentesis, the sample of amniotic fluid is sent to a lab
for analysis.
 Results usually take 10 days to three weeks depending on
the lab.
 It takes that long to get result because the cells have to be
grown in the lab in order to analyse them.
 In the lab, genetic and chemical test are done.
 For chemical tests, proteins, minerals and other compounds
in the amniotic fluid are analysed.
 Amniocentesis results will either be positive or negative.

Positive Test result Negative Test result

 For most women who have
 If the test amniocentesis, results of

result is the procedure will be

negative. That is, the baby

positive it will not have any disorders

that were tested for.

means the
baby has the
disorder that
was being
tested for.
One should be
aware that
there is no
cure
for the
majority of
chromosomal
conditions, So
she needs to
consider her
options
carefully
 If the test result is positive it
means the baby has the
disorder that was being
tested for. One should be
aware that there is no cure
 for the majority of
chromosomal conditions,
So she needs to consider
her options carefully.

Risks Involved In Amniocentesis

The risks involved in amniocentesis include:

 Risk of Miscarriages
 Risk of Injuries.
 Cramping
 Leaking of amniotic fluid from the puncture site or
vagina
 Preterm labor.
 Club foot.
 Amniotic infection.
 Rh issues
Risk of Injuries
Injuries to the baby by the needle are exceedingly rare now
since the procedure is done under ultrasound guidance.

Miscarriages
Risks of miscarriages still exist but have also come down
significantly.

Miscarriages might result from bleeding from the baby if one

of the vessels of the baby is cut by the needle (this is very
rare) or might result from an infectious disease, rupture of
the membranes, or spontaneous labor.

This is the reason why we clean the skin very carefully

before inserting the needle.
Occasionally a baby might also die after a normal
amniocentesis due to unexplained reasons.

Club foot:

Amniocentesis may cause

club foot in baby. This is
when the
baby is born with a deformed
ankle and foot. However ,
the
likely hood of this happening
is higher if you have
amniocentesis before week 15
of pregnancy.
Amniocentesis may cause club foot in baby. This is
when the baby is born with a deformed ankle and foot.
However , the likely hood of this happening is higher if
you have amniocentesis before week 15 of pregnancy.
Miscarriages Club foot

Amniotic infection
Care after the Amniocentesis
Complications of the amniocentesis are rare, but in order to
be on the safe side, one can follow the following precautions.

 No lifting kids or groceries

 no aerobic classes
 no jogging
 no intercourse
 Strenuous activity.
By the next day, one can get back to their normal schedule.
In case of any unusual cramps, bleeding, leakage of fluid,
chills or fever, let the doctor be informed about the same.
 Ban on Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a fetal sex determination test based on the
chromosomal pattern in the amniotic fluid surrounding the
developing embryo.
 This technique is used for prenatal sex determination of a
developing fetus and also for finding congenital disorders.
 In the earlier times, this technique was misused as it is
capable of determining the sex of developing fetus due to
this female feticide increased. Female feticide is the abortion
of the developing fetus if it is a female.
 To overcome this drawback of amniocentesis, the
Government of India has imposed a statutory ban on this
technique under the Pre Natal diagnostic techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act which was
enforced in 1994.
 This act aimed to legally check the increasing female feticide
which is causing an unfavourable sex ratio.
 CONCLUSION

Amniocentesis is a safe procedure that can

provide helpful information about the health of
fetus. It may be offered to be a woman who is at
high risk of having a baby with a genetic
disease. The risk of miscarriage of
amniocentesis is about 0.5% or 1 in 200. It is
the patient’s decision whether the benefits of
procedure out-weigh the risks.
But amniocentesis should not be misused by
determining the sex of the fetus before birth.
 BIBILOGRAPHY
 Wikipedia
 Ncert textbook class 12
Reference from other books