Amniocentesis

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• If there is blood from your baby in the amniotic fluid. This can falsely increase the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels.
• If the amniotic fluid is exposed to light. This can falsely lower bilirubin levels.
• If there is blood or meconium in the fluid. This may cause a false lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: October 12, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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