Definition

Noun: 1. A prenatal diagnostic procedure: A medical test performed during early pregnancy to assess the health of the developing fetus. It involves taking a small sample of tissue from the chorionic villi, which are finger-like projections on the chorion (part of the placenta) that share the fetus's genetic makeup. This tissue is then analyzed in a laboratory.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The doctor recommended chorionic villus sampling to check for chromosomal abnormalities.
  • Chorionic villus sampling is typically performed between the 10th and 13th weeks of pregnancy.
  • After receiving the results from the chorionic villus sampling, the couple had more information to discuss with their genetic counselor.

Advanced Usage

• "to undergo chorionic villus sampling": to have the procedure performed.
  • She decided to undergo chorionic villus sampling due to her family medical history.
• "results from/of chorionic villus sampling": the diagnostic findings obtained from the test.
  • They anxiously awaited the results of the chorionic villus sampling.

Variants and Related Words

• CVS (n): A common initialism for chorionic villus sampling.
  • The patient was scheduled for a CVS next Tuesday.
• Chorionic villi (n): The specific tissue sampled during the procedure.
  • The chorionic villi contain cells that can be analyzed for genetic information.
• Amniocentesis (n): A different prenatal diagnostic test performed later in pregnancy, which analyzes amniotic fluid instead of placental tissue.

Synonyms

• Prenatal diagnostic test: A general term for procedures like chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.
• Prenatal screening: A broader category that includes both diagnostic tests (like CVS) and less invasive screening assessments.

Related Phrases

• Genetic testing: The laboratory analysis performed on the sample obtained from chorionic villus sampling.
  • Chorionic villus sampling allows for early genetic testing.
• Birth defect detection: One of the primary purposes of the procedure.
  • A key advantage of chorionic villus sampling is early birth defect detection.

Noun

1. a prenatal test to detect birth defects at an early stage of pregnancy; tissue from the chorionic villi is assayed