OBJECTIVE Among the pitfalls of using cell-free fetal DNA in plasma for prenatal diagnosis is quality of the recovered DNA fragments and concomitant presence of maternal DNA (>95%). Our objective is to provide alternative methods for achieving enrichment and high-quality fetal DNA from plasma. METHODS Cell-free DNA from 31 pregnant women and 18 controls (10 males and 8 females) were size sepa...

Since the identification of fetal lymphocytes in maternal blood in 1969, investigators have endeavored to develop genetics-based noninvasive prenatal diagnostics (NIPD) (1 ). A robust noninvasive approach would augment or potentially supplant amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, which, although gold standards, carry a risk of fetal loss. Despite considerable efforts, the use of fetal ce...

OBJECTIVE To provide a preliminary assessment of obstetric healthcare provider opinions surrounding implementation of cell-free fetal DNA testing. METHODS A 37-question pilot survey was used to address questions around the translation and use of non-invasive prenatal testing using cell-free fetal DNA. The survey was distributed and collected at a Continuing Medical Education course on obstetr...

1. Hahn S, Holzgreve W. Prenatal diagnosis using fetal cells and cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood: what is currently feasible? Clin Obstet Gynecol 2002;45:649–56. 2. Chiu RW, Lo YM. The biology and diagnostic applications of fetal DNA and RNA in maternal plasma. Curr Top Dev Biol 2004;61:81–111. 3. Lo YM, Tein MS, Lau TK, Haines CJ, Leung TN, Poon PM, et al. Quantitative analysis of fetal ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the normal levels of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma through pregnancy compared with those in pregnancies complicated with placental dysfunction manifested by preeclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN Maternal blood samples from 138 singleton male pregnancies were divided into 3 groups; normal pregnancies (77), preeclampsia (49), and fetal growth restric...

The existence of cell free DNA in the human circulatory system has been known since the 1950s, however, intensive research in this area has been conducted for the last ten years. This review paper brings a short overview of the existing literature concerning the cell free DNA research in various clinical fields and pathological states and considers the application possibilities of this new anal...

The detection of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma and serum by Dennis Lo and colleagues at Oxford University, UK, opened an exciting route for the noninvasive determination of fetal genetic traits (1 ). It has proved very effective for identifying fetal genetic loci completely absent from the maternal genome, such as those on the Y chromosome or the RHD (Rh blood group, D antigen) gene ...

1. Minniti S, Vincentini S, Procacci C. Congenital anomalies of the venae cavae: embryological origin, imaging features and report of three new variants. Eur Radiol 2002; 12: 2040–2055. 2. Nsah EN, Moore GW, Hutchins GM. Pathogenesis of persistent left superior vena cava with a coronary sinus connection. Pediatr Pathol 1991; 11: 261–269. 3. Pasquini L, Belmar C, Seale A, Gardiner HM. Prenatal d...