Percutaneous Umbilical Cord Blood Sampling (PUBS) test is a prenatal DNA test that is done to determine any possible chances of the baby developing a genetic or chromosomal disorder during pregnancy.

Prenatal DNA Test (PUBS)

This test can be performed after the 18th week of pregnancy. This test can help to determine various genetic disorders as well as other infections, or blood-related disorders in the fetus.

And in the unlikely event, this method can also be used to deliver medication or blood transfusion to the child through the umbilical cord.

How is PUBS done?

As mentioned earlier this method can be performed after 18-23, weeks of the pregnancy. And in cases where this test needs to be done after 24 weeks of pregnancy, the whole procedure is carried out in the hospital to avoid kind of complications.

In this method, the doctor uses ultrasound to locate the umbilical cord and then inserts a needle through the abdomen, uterus into the umbilical cord to get a sample of blood. After the sample is collected this sample is sent to the lab for testing.

Although after the procedure of sampling, the mother is put under surveillance to make sure the fetus is safe.

The test can determine if the baby has any genetic/ chromosomal disorder or infection. But it is not used regularly due to the high level of risk involved in this procedure and instead of PUBS other prenatal tests are used in its place.

Some of the risks include- 

• Fetal bleeding
• Cord hematoma
• Slowing the heart rate of the fetus
• Infection
• Premature rupture of the membrane
• Fetal-maternal bleeding