Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is prenatal screening test. Chorionic villi are analyzed in order to identify chromosomal anomalies and, therefore, genetic diseases that might be related to such anomalies, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edward Syndrome (trisomy 18), Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), Turner syndrome (X monosomy), cystic fibrosis, Spina Bifida (split spine), anencephaly and Tay-Sachs disease. This kind of prenatal screening is usually recommended by geneticists and gynecologist to women over 35 years of age and to women with risky pregnancies. Biocell Center offers the cryo-preservation service for part of the extracted chorionic villi, in order to store cells contained in the sample. There is no change in the standard CVS procedure in order to collect the sample for cryo-preservation purposes: the method is very simple and requires just few mg of chorionic villi that are not necessary for genetic screening.

Once the sampling is performer, the gynecologist performs the quantification of chorionic villi and part of the sample is transferred into the tube provided in Biocell Center’s kit together with the instructions. The tube is then sealed into the given security container and sent to Biocell Center’s labs.