Development of HLA-A, -B and -DR Typing Method Using Next-Generation Sequencing / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Research on next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based HLA typing is active. To resolve the phase ambiguity and long turn-around-time of conventional high resolution HLA typing, this study developed a NGS-based high resolution HLA typing method that can handle large-scale samples within an efficient testing time. METHODS: For HLA NGS, the condition of nucleic acid extraction, library construction, PCR mechanism, and HLA typing with bioinformatics were developed. To confirm the accuracy of the NGS-based HLA typing method, the results of 192 samples HLA typed by SSOP and 28 samples typed by SBT compared to NGS-based HLA-A, -B and -DR typing. RESULTS: DNA library construction through two-step PCR, NGS sequencing with MiSeq (Illumina Inc., San Diego, USA), and the data analysis platform were established. NGS-based HLA typing results were compatible with known HLA types from 220 blood samples. CONCLUSION: The NSG-based HLA typing method could handle large volume samples with high-throughput. Therefore, it would be useful for HLA typing of bone marrow donation volunteers.

Performance of Momguard, a new non-invasive prenatal testing protocol developed in Korea

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of Momguard, non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) for detecting trisomy (T) 21, T18, T13, and sex-chromosome abnormalities recently developed in Korea. METHODS: This preliminary study formed part of a large prospective cohort study conducted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Only pregnant women who underwent both NIPT and confirmatory karyotyping were included in this study. NIPT results were compared with those of karyotype analyses. RESULTS: Among 93 eligible cases, NIPT results could not be obtained in one case due to a low fetal cell-free DNA fraction. Based on NIPT, eight cases of fetal aneuploidies, including T21 (n=5), T18 (n=2), and T13 (n=1), were identified. For T21 and T18, the sensitivity and specificity of NIPT were both 100%, with a false-positive and false-negative rate of 0% and a positive-predictive value of 100%. One patient classified as having intermediate risk for T13 by NIPT was confirmed to have T13 by karyotyping, and there were no false-negative cases. No cases of sex-chromosome anomalies were detected by NIPT or karyotyping during the study period. CONCLUSION: Momguard is a reliable screening tool for detecting T21 and T18. For T13 and sex-chromosome anomalies, further prospective studies are necessary to confirm its utility.

Clinical Study of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Using Next-Generation Sequencing

BACKGROUND: Serological prenatal screening tests are widely used to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities such as Down and Edward syndromes. After determining the presence of fetal cell-free DNA in maternal blood, the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) coupled with next-generation sequencing has been performed in other countries, therefore, we developed a domestic NIPT technology. METHODS: The results of genomics-based NIPT performed between April and May, 2015 were analyzed. Maternal blood samples were collected in a specific Cell-Free DNA BCT tube. The samples were then massively sequenced using MiSeq and NextSeq 500 (Illumina Inc., USA) using LabGenomics laboratory-developed libraries. Chromosomal abnormalities were analyzed using a bioinfomatics algorithm. RESULTS: A total of 464 cases were analyzed. The samples of 12 subjects had to be collected again because of a low fetal DNA fraction in the initially obtained samples. Among the 456 cases for which fetal genome results were obtained, 436 had a low risk of trisomy, 12 had a high risk for Down syndrome, two had a high risk for Edward syndrome, and four had sex chromosomal aneuploidy, showing that the positive percentage of chromosomal abnormalities was 4.4%. All 12 cases with high risk for Down syndrome were confirmed as having trisomy 21 by amniocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our laboratory-developed genomics-based NIPT showed high positive predictive value, therefore, NIPT may be replaced by our own developed method.

Evaluating the results of the Momguard noninvasive prenatal test

PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of the Momguard noninvasive prenatal test by tracing the 'screen positive' results based on preliminary samples from Korean cohorts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This preliminary study is based on data collected by the LabGenomics Clinical Laboratory (Seongnam, Korea) with informed consent. Only pregnant women who underwent both the Momguard test and karyotyping were included in this study. Momguard test results were compared with those of the karyotyping analysis. RESULTS: Among the 38 cases with 'screen positive' results by Momguard, 30 cases also had karyotyping results available. In three trisomy (T) 18 and three T13 cases, the Momguard results were concordant with the karyotyping results. For the T21 cases, except for one case belonging to the mid-risk zone, Momguard results from 23 out of 24 cases matched the karyotyping results. CONCLUSION: Momguard is a highly reliable screening tool for detecting T13, T18, and T21 cases in independent Korean cohort samples.