Chorionic Villus Sampling

What is chorionic villus sampling?

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that diagnoses chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, as well as a host of other genetic disorders. The doctor takes cells from tiny fingerlike projections on your placenta called the chorionic villi and sends them to a lab for genetic analysis.

CVS and another test called amniocentesis produce a karyotype – a picture of your baby's chromosomes – so that your caregiver can see for sure if there are any problems.

Women who choose to have CVS or amniocentesis are often those at increased risk for genetic and chromosomal problems, in part because these tests are invasive and carry a small risk of miscarriage.

The main advantage of CVS over amniocentesis is that you can have it done earlier — generally between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. For an amnio, you'll have to wait until you're at least 16 weeks pregnant.