title: Prenatal diagnosis of the RhD fetal blood type on amniotic fluid by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the accuracy of a molecular assay for the determination of the fetal RhD status on amniotic fluid (AF)samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction of a common sequence of the RhD and CE genes and of a unique sequence of the RhD gene was performed on AF directly or after DNA extraction. Samples of AF obtained from patients undergoing amniocentesis for standard obstetric indications were used for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amplification of DNA was successful on 112 of 114 samples. One hundred four fetuses were found to be RhD positive and eight were found to be RhD negative. Serologic confirmation of the RhD blood type was available on 108 samples and DNA diagnosis was correct in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polymerase chain reaction can be used to determine accurately the fetal RhD blood type from AF samples.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Van Den Veyver
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Werch
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Moise
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D004247:DNA