title: Fetal cells in the maternal circulation: isolation by multiparameter flow cytometry and confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: During pregnancy, nucleated fetal erythrocytes enter the maternal circulation and can be isolated efficiently from the maternal cells by multiparameter flow cytometry. Male DNA, implying presence of a male fetus, can be identified in flow-sorted maternal blood by polymerase chain reaction with oligonucleotide primers flanking single-copy Y-specific DNA sequences. Among flow-sorted samples, we correctly identified fetal sex in 17/18 (94%) pregnancies of 10-21 weeks gestation. Maternal blood thus provides a potential opportunity for prenatal diagnosis that could preclude the need for invasive procedures in current use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wachtel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wachtel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dockter
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D003854:Deoxyribonucleotides; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005865:Gestational Age; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis
chemical_list: D003854:Deoxyribonucleotides; D006021:Glycophorins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin