COELOCENTESIS - A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR EARLY PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS

Chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis have disadvantages. In 100 women undergoing termination of pregnancy, coelomic fluid was success fully aspirated in 96% of cases at 6-10 weeks' gestation, 42% at 11, a nd 10% at 12 weeks. Cytogenetic analysis always failed with coelomic f luid, but fetal sexing was always successful with fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction, and the results agreed w ith those obtained from chorionic villi and amniotic fluid in all case s. Coelocentesis may be suitable for prenatal diagnosis in the first t rimester.