title: Slovenian five-year experiences with rapid prenatal diagnosis of common chromosome aneuploidies using quantitative-fluorescence polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quantitative-fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was used to detect common fetal aneuploidies in pregnancies with increased (maternal age) or high risk (increased nuchal translucency, abnormal fetal ultrasonography, positive biochemical hormone test, or positive family history) for fetal aneuploidy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The QF-PCR testing was performed on 642 prenatal samples (73.3% amniotic fluids, 26.7% chorionic villus). DNA from prenatal samples were analyzed using an in-house-developed QF-PCR method with 20 micro-satellite markers located on the chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. Karyotyping of the 392 samples was done and both results were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  634/642 samples were successfully analyzed. In 7.1% of 634 cases numerical chromosome abnormalities were detected. Results of QF-PCR and karyotyping were compared in 392 cases. In the group, with increased risk of fetal trisomy the specificity and sensitivity of QF-PCR method was 100%. Among cases with high risk for fetal aneuploidy, sensitivity was 100% (86.6%-100%); however, the specificity was lower, 91.1% to 100%, depending on the referral reason.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women, at advanced age QF-PCR can be used alone without karyotyping. In cases with higher risk, especially those with abnormal ultrasound findings, analysis performed only with QF-PCR is not a sufficient diagnostic method.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Alenka Erjavec
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Škerget
authors.forename: Spela Stangler
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Herodež
authors.forename: Andreja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zagorac
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zagradišnik
authors.forename: Faris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mujezinović
authors.forename: Nadja Kokalj
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Vokač
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D059785:Karyotype; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017524:Slovenia