Fetal medicine · Prenatal diagnosis
CVS and amniocentesis biopsy needles for UK fetal medicine units — echogenic under ultrasound, colour-coded by gauge, sterile and single use. Supplied throughout the United Kingdom by Inomed Health Limited, a Halifax-based distributor of single-use medical devices to NHS hospitals.
Chorionic villus sampling
Chorionic villus sampling detects the presence or absence of genetic disorders at an earlier stage than amniocentesis. Sampling is performed transabdominally under ultrasound guidance.
The set contains two devices: a coaxial introducer needle and a villus sampling needle. The introducer allows the sampling needle to reach the biopsy site through the abdominal wall, so a second pass can be taken without a second puncture.
| Code | Villus needle | Coaxial | Villus length | Coaxial length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBUT2015 | 20 G | 18 G | 150 mm | 90 mm |
| PBUT2020 | 20 G | 18 G | 200 mm | 140 mm |
| PBUT2022 | 20 G | 18 G | 220 mm | 160 mm |
| PBUT2222 | 22 G | 19 G | 220 mm | 160 mm |
PBUTxxyy — xx is the gauge of the villus sampling needle, yy its length. PBUT2022 is a 20 G, 220 mm villus sampling needle.
Amniocentesis
A disposable needle for transabdominal sampling of amniotic fluid for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders of the fetus.
A stainless steel cannula with a sharpened chiba tip reaches deep-seated sampling sites. The hub carries a luer lock connection to collect amniotic fluid through a syringe.
| Code | Gauge | Length | Code | Gauge | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBU1815 | 18 G | 150 mm | PBU2115 | 21 G | 150 mm |
| PBU1820 | 18 G | 200 mm | PBU2120 | 21 G | 200 mm |
| PBU2009 | 20 G | 90 mm | PBU2122 | 21 G | 220 mm |
| PBU2012 | 20 G | 120 mm | PBU2209 | 22 G | 90 mm |
| PBU2015 | 20 G | 150 mm | PBU2212 | 22 G | 120 mm |
| PBU2020 | 20 G | 200 mm | PBU2215 | 22 G | 150 mm |
| PBU2022 | 20 G | 220 mm | PBU2220 | 22 G | 200 mm |
| PBU2109 | 21 G | 90 mm | PBU2222 | 22 G | 220 mm |
| PBU2112 | 21 G | 120 mm |
PBUxxyy — xx is the gauge, yy the length. Seventeen references from 18 G to 22 G, 90 mm to 220 mm.
Transabdominal coaxial technique
A schematic overview of the published technique for transabdominal chorionic villus sampling with a coaxial set. It is not a substitute for the Instructions for Use.
Confirm viability, gestational age, liquor volume and placental location. Choose a track clear of the fetus.
Clean the skin with antiseptic, apply a sterile drape and use separate sterile gel. Local anaesthetic optional.
Under ultrasound guidance, advance the introducer and stylet to the placental edge. The wings give a secure grip.
Hold the introducer in position and remove the stylet. The colour-coded hub identifies the gauge.
Pass the echogenic sampling needle through the introducer. Attach a syringe, apply suction and make back-and-forth passes.
Check the aspirate for villi. A further pass may be taken through the introducer, then withdraw and check the fetal heart.
CVS is performed after 10+0 weeks, commonly between 11+0 and 13+6. A minimum of 5 mg of chorionic villi is required for a valid result. Confirm fetal cardiac activity afterwards, and offer anti-D immunoglobulin within 72 hours to non-sensitised RhD-negative women unless the fetus is known to be RhD-negative. Schematic overview only — the procedure must be performed by an appropriately trained operator under continuous ultrasound guidance, following the Instructions for Use supplied with the product and local clinical protocol. Technique summarised from ISUOG Practice Guidelines: invasive procedures for prenatal diagnosis (2016) and RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 8 (2021).
Supply
Quotations, NHS Supply Chain references and framework queries are answered by the order desk in Halifax, by a person who knows the range.
Units trialling a gauge or length before committing to a framework line can request evaluation stock against a named consultant.
Instructions for Use, declarations and batch traceability are supplied with every order and held against the consignment.
Common questions
Answers to what fetal medicine units and procurement teams ask before ordering. For anything not covered here, the order desk in Halifax will answer it directly.
Transabdominal CVS is performed with a coaxial set. The ChorionSet is supplied in 20 G and 22 G, the introducer and the villus sampling needle matched as a pair, with the stylet hub colour-coded by gauge so the correct size is identifiable on the trolley without reading the label.
A CVS set is coaxial: an introducer cannula is placed first, the stylet withdrawn, and the sampling needle passed down it, so the placenta is entered once however many passes are taken. An amniocentesis needle is a single chiba needle passed directly into the amniotic cavity. They are different instruments for different procedures and are not interchangeable.
Yes. Both the ChorionSet and the Amnio needle are echogenic, so the tip is visible under continuous ultrasound guidance throughout the procedure.
The Amnio chiba needle is supplied from 18 G to 22 G in lengths from 90 mm to 220 mm, graduated along the shaft, with a sliding stopper for depth and a colour-coded luer lock hub for syringe connection.
Sterile, single use, ten units per box. Full product documentation is provided, and the Instructions for Use supplied with the product govern the technique.
Inomed Health Limited supplies both the ChorionSet CVS sets and the Amnio amniocentesis needles throughout the United Kingdom, from Halifax, West Yorkshire. Orders and quotations are handled by a named contact on the order desk rather than through a portal.
Yes. Evaluation samples are available to fetal medicine units considering a change of supplier. Request one with the enquiry form below, or by telephone.
Contact
Tell us your trust, department and the codes you are interested in, and the order desk will respond with pricing, lead time and availability.