Amniocentesis should not be used for:

The correct answer is Option (3) → Sex determination of the developing foetus

Amniocentesis is a test of the amniotic fluid around the developing foetus, done during pregnancy.

Option (1) The diagnosis of maternal health during pregnancy — A proper use of amniocentesis. The test is a medical check of the pregnancy. Its results help the doctor to plan the care of the mother and the foetus, and the law places no ban on such use.

Option (2) Testing the presence of genetic disorder in the developing embryo — A proper use of amniocentesis. The foetal cells in the fluid show the chromosomes and genes, so disorders such as Down’s syndrome can be found before birth.

Option (3) Sex determination of the developing foetus — Not a proper use of amniocentesis. The chromosomes in the foetal cells also reveal the sex of the child. This has been misused to find female foetuses and end the pregnancy. So there is a statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex determination, to check female foeticide.

Option (4) Testing any anomaly in the developing embryo — A proper use of amniocentesis. The test can show whether the foetus is developing normally and whether it is likely to survive.

NCERT Extract:
Reproductive Health – Problems and Strategies – “… Statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex-determination to legally check increasing menace of female foeticides, massive child immunisation, etc., are some programmes that merit mention in this connection. In aminocentesis some of the amniotic fluid of the developing foetus is taken to analyse the fetal cells and dissolved substances. This procedure is used to test for the presence of certain genetic disorders such as, down syndrome, haemoplilia, sickle-cell anemia, etc., determine the survivability of the foetus.”