EARLY FETAL BLOOD-SAMPLING - ANOTHER AVAILABLE OPTION FOR EARLY PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS

Fourteen cases had early fetal blood sampling (FBS) performed between 13 and 18 weeks gestation in the Antenatal Diagostic Centre, National University Hospital, Singapore from Jan 1988 to December 1994. The ind ications were: a) ultrasound abnormality (n = 6), b) hydrops (n = 1): c) screening for blood disorders (n = 2), d) amnio results inconclusiv e or to confirm abnormal amnio results (n = 5). This article analyses retrospectively the early FBS procedure and its outcome. There were no procedure related fetal losses in this study. The reliable rapid resu lts obtained following the procedure enabled the obstetrician to couns el the couple regarding the current pregnancy and advise them accordin gly for the subsequent pregnancy. Thus we found it useful not only in our patients but also for patients from overseas who get their results within a week to plan their stay.