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Detection of Y chromosome‐specific DNA in the plasma and urine of pregnant women using nested polymerase chain reaction

2001; Wiley; Volume: 21; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/pd.69

1097-0223

M.K. Al-Yatama, Abu Salim Mustafa, Sadiq Ali, Sabu Abraham, Zohra Khan, Nawal Khaja,

Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders

Abstract The present study was undertaken to evaluate a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Y chromosome‐specific fetal DNA in maternal plasma and urine of pregnant women during different gestational stages. DNA isolated from plasma and urine samples of 80 pregnant women (between 7 and 40 weeks' gestation) underwent amplification for Y chromosome‐specific 198 bp DNA by nested PCR. The postpartum analysis of fetal gender showed that 55 women carried male and 25 female fetuses. Among the 55 women bearing male fetuses, Y chromosome‐specific signals were detected in 53 (96%) plasma and 21 (38%) urine samples. Moreover, out of 25 women bearing female fetuses, 3 (12%) and 1 (4%) women had Y chromosome‐specific signal in plasma and urine, respectively. Analysis of results with respect to gestational age revealed that there was no significant difference in the detection of Y chromosome‐specific DNA between different trimesters in maternal plasma of women bearing male fetuses. These results showed that fetus‐specific DNA was detected with high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (88%) in the maternal plasma by nested PCR, and therefore the method could be useful as a non‐invasive procedure for fetal sex determination and prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.