title: Endocervical fetal trophoblast for prenatal genetic diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For over a decade, methods of first-trimester, noninvasive prenatal genetic diagnosis have been actively pursued by many investigators. Isolation of fetal trophoblast from endocervical specimens remains an attractive approach, given the greater numbers of fetal cells than in maternal blood and the better potential for fetal-cell identification based on markers specific for a single cell type (trophoblasts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current studies demonstrate feasibility in identification and molecular analysis of fetal trophoblast cells for prenatal genetic testing. Sampling methods involving lavage, cytobrush, or aspiration of cervical specimens, however, have limitations in the recovery of trophoblasts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical applications await further systematic studies to determine safety and accuracy in recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. bischoff@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Farideh Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Joe Leigh
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods