For the album by the band The White Stripes, see White Blood Cells (album) . White blood cells (WBCs), also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.All leukocytes are produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a hematopoietic stem cell.or the album by the band The White Stripes, see White Blood Cells (album) . White blood cells (WBCs), also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.
Amniocentesis can also be used to determine the maturity of the fetal lungs or the cause of a fever in the mother. For genetic testing, chromosome analysis, and the evaluation of an abnormal alpha feto-protein test, amniocentesis is usually performed between the 16th and 21st weeks of pregnancy.
Early in pregnancy, amniocentesis is used for diagnosis of chromosomal and other fetal problems such as: 1  Down syndrome (trisomy 21) 2  Trisomy 13. 3  Trisomy 18. 4  Fragile X. 5  Rare, inherited metabolic disorders. 6  Neural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida) by alpha-fetoprotein levels.