More than an abstract: Detection of foetal DNA in maternal plasma and its diagnostic use

Author(s): R Swaminathan

Description

Presence of foetal cells in maternal circulation is well recognised and one important application of this finding is the use of foetal cells for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. However these procedures are time-consuming and/or expensive. Lo and colleagues have attempted to use foetal DNA in maternal plasma for such diagnostic purposes. In a series of recent articles Lo and colleagues have demonstrated the potential application of the presence of foetal DNA in maternal plasma.