General

Synonym/Acronym:
N/A

Rationale
To assist in diagnosing genetic fetal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction. Instruct the patient to drink 1 to 2 glasses of water about 30 min prior to testing so that the bladder is full. This elevates the uterus higher in the pelvis. The patient should not void before the procedure.

Normal Findings
(Method: Tissue culture) Normal karyotype.

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions

• Identification of abnormalities in chorionic villus tissue

Timely notification to the requesting health-care provider (HCP) of any critical findings and related symptoms is a role expectation of the professional nurse. A listing of these findings varies among facilities.