Objectives To analyze the chromosomal karyotypes of fetus,and discuss the detection rates of chromosomal abnormalities under different indications for prenatal diagnosis.Methods Cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis were performed on a cohort of pregnant women with different indications in the second-or third-trimester.Detection rates of fetal chromosomal abnormalities under each indication were compared.Results The success rate of amniotic fluid cell culture was 95.1%(562/591),and 33 cases of abnormal karyotypes were found.The detection rate of abnormality was 5.9%(33/562),including 15 cases of triploid syndromes(45.4%),8 cases of Down's syndrome,4 cases of 18-trisomy,and 1 case of 16-trisomy syndrome.The detection rate of abnormal karyotypes was 50% in the pregnant women who or which couple was a carrier of constitutional chromosome abnormality,10% of the fetuses with abnormal ultrasound founding,5.6% of pregnant women elder than 35 years old,and 2.6% in high risk pregnancy by serum prenatal screening.Conclusion A carrier of chromosomal abnormality of one of the couple,fetal abnormalities found by ultrasound,elder maternal age,and a high risk result by serum prenatal screening are the most important genetic indications for prenatal diagnosis.