Karyotype Test: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
Karyotype is done to:
- Determine whether the chromosomes of an adult have an abnormality that can be passed on to a child.
- Determine whether a chromosome defect is preventing a woman from becoming pregnant or causing miscarriages.
- Determine whether a chromosome defect is present in a fetus. Karyotyping also may be done to determine whether chromosomal problems may have caused a fetus to be stillborn.
- Determine the cause of a baby's birth defects or disability.
- Help determine the appropriate treatment for some types of cancer.
- Identify the sex of a person by determining the presence of the Y chromosome. This may be done when a newborn's sex is not clear.
| Last updated: | April 26, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Renee H. Martin, PhD - Medical Genetics |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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