Coelocentesis: a new technique for early prenatal diagnosis.

Chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis have disadvantages. In 100 women undergoing termination of pregnancy, coelomic fluid was successfully aspirated in 96% of cases at 6-10 weeks' gestation, 42% at 11, and 10% at 12 weeks. Cytogenetic analysis always failed with coelomic fluid, but fetal sexing was always successful with fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction, and the results agreed with those obtained from chorionic villi and amniotic fluid in all cases. Coelocentesis may be suitable for prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester.