[Detection and enrichment of fetal cells in maternal circulation for prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex].
OBJECTIVE
To study fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood for prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex.


METHODS
Samples of peripheral blood in 64 women of 8-40 gestational weeks were collected to enrich the fetal nucleated red blood cells by density gradient centrifugation. DNA was extracted from each samples of enriched fetal cell for PCR amplification of Y chromosome specific DNA to determine fetal sex.


RESULTS
Fetal nucleated red cells were found in 25 out of 64 maternal samples (39.06%). Y chromosome 149 bp was found in 28 cases of the 33 mothers given birth to male babies. One Y specific DNA sequence was detected in 31 women had female babies. The sensitivity was 84.85% and specificity 96.77%. The overall agreement of the diagnosis was 90.63%.


CONCLUSIONS
Density gradient centrifugation can enrich fetal nucleated red blood cells from maternal peripheral blood. Fetal sex can be determined by PCR amplification of Y chromosome specific DNA with these fetal cells.
Song
J
J
Second Clinical Hospital, Norman Bethune University of Medical Science, Changchun.
Li
S
S
Zhang
A
A
D001775:Blood Circulation; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D014998:Y Chromosome