Early and midtrimester genetic amniocenteses. Safety and outcomes.

Prenatal diagnosis, the in utero determination of fetal disease, has become an important aspect of genetic counseling. The advances in technology coupled with developments in the field of molecular biology and genetics have made possible the detection of an increasing number of diseases in utero. Although not without some risk, midtrimester amniocentesis has been, and will continue to be, an important technique in this regard.