Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used to detect genetic disorders and birth defects in a foetus. In this process, a small amount of amniotic fluid is taken from the sac surrounding the foetus, which contains cells from the foetus. These cells are then analyzed for any genetic disorders.
The other options are not primarily used for detecting defective foetuses in the same way:
- Ultrasound can help detect structural anomalies, but it is not a definitive method for genetic analysis.
- Blood tests can check for certain conditions but do not analyze genetic defects directly in the foetus.
- Genetic screening involves analyzing the genes of the parents or the foetus, but amniocentesis is more specific for direct testing of the foetus.