Amniocentesis is a foetal sex determination and disorder test based on the chromosomal pattern in the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing embryo.
This procedure is used to test for the presence of certain genetic disorders such as down syndrome, haemophilia, sickle-cell anaemia, etc., determine the survival of the foetus.
Amniotic fluid contains cells from the skin of the foetus and some other sources.
These cells can be analysed to check the above-mentioned conditions.
If it is established that the child is likely to suffer from a serious incurable congenital defect, the mother should get the foetus aborted.
However, it was misused to kill the normal female foetus.
Hence, there is a statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex-determination to legally check the increasing menace of female foeticides.