A nurse is caring for a client who had chorionic villus sampling (CVS) performed at 12 weeks’ gestation and asks when she can expect results from this test.

The nurse should inform her that results are typically available within which timeframe?

This test can detect genetic disorders.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta to test for chromosomal abnormalities and certain other genetic problems.

The placenta is a structure in the uterus that provides blood and nutrients from the mother to the fetus.

Choice A is wrong because CVS does not provide information on neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

For this reason, women who undergo CVS also need a follow-up blood test between 16 to 18 weeks of their pregnancy to screen for neural tube defects.

Choice C is wrong because CVS can detect chromosomal abnormalities, but not all chromosomal abnormalities are genetic disorders.

For example, Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that occurs randomly and is not inherited from the parents.

Choice D is wrong because CVS cannot detect Rh sensitization, which is a condition where the mother’s immune system produces antibodies against the fetus’s blood cells.

Rh sensitization can be detected by a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in the mother’s blood.

The woman should drink several glasses of water before the abdominal ultrasound procedure.

This is because a full bladder helps to push the intestines away and improve the visibility of the uterus and the fetus.

Drinking water also helps to avoid gas buildup in the abdomen, which could interfere with the sound waves.

Choice B is wrong because emptying the bladder would make it harder to see the uterus and the fetus.

Choice C is wrong because lying on the right side would not affect the quality of the ultrasound image.

Choice D is wrong because fasting is not necessary for an abdominal ultrasound, unless instructed by the doctor for a specific reason.