percutaneous umbilical blood sampling

medicine

Also known as: PUBS, cordocentesis, fetal blood sampling, foetal blood sampling, percutaneous umbilical cord sampling(Show More)

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is a rare and relatively high-risk medical procedure used for prenatal diagnosis. It is typically performed only in unusual cases when other diagnostic methods are not suitable.1

PUBS involves obtaining a blood sample directly from the umbilical cord of a fetus. This allows for detailed genetic and chromosomal analysis, which can help identify potential health issues or genetic disorders in the unborn child.1

While PUBS can provide crucial information, it carries a higher risk of complications compared to less invasive prenatal tests like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Due to these risks, it is reserved for specific situations where the diagnostic benefits are deemed to outweigh the potential dangers.1

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human genetic disease
Prenatal diagnosis
Both percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and preimplantation testing are rare, relatively high-risk, and performed only in very unusual cases. Preimplantation testing of embryos derived by in vitro fertilization is a particularly new technique and is currently used only in cases of couples who are at…
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Both percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and preimplantation testing are rare, relatively high-risk, and performed only in very unusual cases. Preimplantation testing of embryos derived by in vitro fertilization is a particularly new technique and is currently used only in cases of couples who are at…
Read More

prenatal testing
Prenatal diagnostic tests
…cordocentesis (fetal blood sampling, or percutaneous umbilical cord sampling), in which fetal blood is collected from the umbilical cord or the fetus; fetoscopy, in which an instrument called a fetoscope is inserted through an incision in the abdomen in order to directly access the umbilical cord, amniotic cavity, and fetus;…
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…cordocentesis (fetal blood sampling, or percutaneous umbilical cord sampling), in which fetal blood is collected from the umbilical cord or the fetus; fetoscopy, in which an instrument called a fetoscope is inserted through an incision in the abdomen in order to directly access the umbilical cord, amniotic cavity, and fetus;…
Read More