Fetal cells in maternal blood: recovery by charge flow separation

• DOI: 10.1007/s004390050181
• Publication Date: 2002-08-25T08:52:48Z
• Authors: S. S. Wachtel; David Sammons; Michael Manley; Gwendolyn Wachtel; Garland Twitty; Joseph Utermohlen; Owen P. Phillips; Lee P. Shulman; Douglas J. Taron; U. R. Müller; Peter Koeppen; Teresa M. Ruffalo; Karen Addis; Richard Porreco; Joyce Murata-Collins; Natalie B. Parker; Loris McGavran
• Keywords: Amniocentesis; Trisomy; Chorionic villus sampling

Fetal blood cells can be recovered from the maternal circulation by charge flow separation (CFS), a method that obviates the risks associated with amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. By CFS, we processed blood samples from 13 women carrying male fetuses, 2 carrying fetuses with trisomy 21, and 1 who had delivered a stillborn infant with trisomy 18. On average more than 2000 fetal nucleated red blood cells were recovered per 20-ml sample of maternal blood. Recovery of fetal cells was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for chromosomes Y, 18 and 21. After culturing of CFS-processed cells, amplification by the polymerase chain reaction revealed Y-chromosomal DNA in clones from four of six women bearing male fetuses, but not in clones from three women bearing female fetuses.