MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis

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Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis

Genetic counseling (and prenatal diagnosis) provides parents with the knowledge to make intelligent, informed decisions regarding possible pregnancy and its outcome. If a pregnancy occurs the couple may want to evaluate the fetus by prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal diagnosis involves testing fetal cells, amniotic fluid, or amniotic membranes to detect fetal abnormalities.

Update Date: 6/24/2007

Updated by: Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospitalof Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

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