Accuracy assessment of interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization on uncultured amniotic fluid cells

ABSTRACT

Parental anxiety while waiting for the results of amniocentesis has been investigated by many authors. It seems that the implementation of faster techniques such as fluorescence in-situ hybridization [FISH] will have some benefits in reducing this anxiety. Besides the patients' attitudes to choosing this method, gynecologists who are the persons responsible for treatment, must feel comfortable about prescribing FISH techniques. This study, using a simple methodology, was undertaken to evaluate the results of FISH tests on the amniotic fluid from 40 pregnant women undergoing cesarean surgery. Two sets of probes including X/Y cocktail and 13, 21 and 18 were applied on different slides. The results of FISH tests were compared with the reports of the pediatrician about the health condition of the newborn. Complete conformity between the two sets of findings, have convinced our gynecologists of the benefit of prescribing this method to reduce the anxiety of patients at risk of having abnormal offspring due to chromosomal anuploidies. As has been documented by many authors, conventional chromosome analysis has great advantages over fluorescence in situ hybridization of interphase amniocytes, but reducing the anxiety of parents is a good reason for employing the FISH technique