Fetal gender determination in early pregnancy using PCR analysis of maternal serum

ABSTRACT

Non-invasive methods using maternal plasma and serum for molecular genetic diagnosis have become an important field of interest in prenatal genetic diagnosis. Free fetal DNA in maternal plasma and serum has been shown to be useful for fetal gender determination, and seems to offer a new possibility to perform non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 25 pregnant women selected at random. All of the pregnant women underwent blood sampling at gestational ages ranging from 9 weeks + 2 days to 12 weeks + 4 days. Maternal serum was used to detect the Y-chromosome specific sequence DYS14. 40 cycles of PCR were carried out for each DNA extract. The PCR products were analyzed by 2.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining and the results were compared with the results of ultrasound scanning at 21 weeks gestation. Ultrasound scan revealed that 13 of the pregnant women were carrying a male fetus and the remaining 12 pregnant women were carrying a female fetus. PCR analysis of maternal serum of all the women participating in the study was identical to the results obtained by Ultrasound scan PCR analysis of maternal serum can be used successfully with 100% accuracy to diagnose fetal gender in maternal serum in normal single pregnancies