title: The utilization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA testing and decrease in invasive diagnostic procedures: an institutional experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the patient population utilizing circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) testing at a large academic center and evaluate trends in the performance of invasive diagnostic procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent cell-free DNA testing from May to December 2012 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 206 patients had cell-free DNA testing. Of those, 75% (155/206) were of ages ⩾ 35 years. Of those undergoing ccffDNA testing, 41% had positive aneuploidy screening and 38% had abnormal ultrasound findings. Only 7% of the patients with negative ccffDNA testing opted for an invasive diagnostic procedure compared with 60% with positive testing (P<0.01). The rate of invasive procedures decreased from 5.9% of all visits to the center during a similar 8-month period in 2010 to 4.1% of all visits during the study period (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that ccffDNA testing leads to reduced uptake of invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Care and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Care and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Care and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korty
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Care and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Care and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pretorius
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000782:Aneuploidy; D002474:Cell-Free System; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004247:DNA