Fetal cells in maternal blood: recovery by charge flow separation.
Fetal blood cells can be recovered from the maternal circulation by charge flow separation (CFS), a method that obviates the risks associated with amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. By CFS, we processed blood samples from 13 women carrying male fetuses, 2 carrying fetuses with trisomy 21, and 1 who had delivered a stillborn infant with trisomy 18. On average more than 2000 fetal nucleated red blood cells were recovered per 20-ml sample of maternal blood. Recovery of fetal cells was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for chromosomes Y, 18 and 21. After culturing of CFS-processed cells, amplification by the polymerase chain reaction revealed Y-chromosomal DNA in clones from four of six women bearing male fetuses, but not in clones from three women bearing female fetuses.
Wachtel
S S
SS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103, USA.
Sammons
D
D
Manley
M
M
Wachtel
G
G
Twitty
G
G
Utermohlen
J
J
Phillips
O P
OP
Shulman
L P
LP
Taron
D J
DJ
Müller
U R
UR
Koeppen
P
P
Ruffalo
T M
TM
Addis
K
K
Porreco
R
R
Murata-Collins
J
J
Parker
N B
NB
McGavran
L
L
D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014314:Trisomy; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics