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Guidance

CVS and amniocentesis diagnostic tests: description in brief

Information for pregnant women who are offered a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis diagnostic test.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
23 January 2017
Last updated:
6 March 2026
Show all updates

  1. Removed reference to printing leaflets. Added information on requesting other formats.

  2. Added list of translations to the details. Added link to guidance on printing leaflets.

  3. Added translations for Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Spanish and Urdu

  4. Changed lead organisation to NHS England. Removed reference to screening helpdesk. Removed references to PHE. Removed PDF version.

  5. Addition of plain A4 PDF version for printing, to provide for people unable to access this information online.

  6. Updated information in line with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists best practice guidelines.

  7. Updated branding on document.

  8. Updated personal data statement and copyright information in leaflet.

  9. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Screening in pregnancy: CVS and amniocentesis information for parents

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Details

CVS and amniocentesis are diagnostic tests that can tell if a baby definitely has a serious condition by checking their chromosomes. This document is for pregnant women who are offered a CVS or amniocentesis test following antenatal screening tests.

The information is available in 10 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Spanish, and Urdu.

To request another format, you can phone 0300 311 22 33 or email england.contactus@nhs.net.

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