Appling cell-free fetal DNA and RNA of maternal plasma in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

Genetic factors are the important reasons for birth defects.Among genetic factors,chromosome abnormality is the most common.Prenatal diagnosis can effectively avoid fetus of abnormal chromosome being born.Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis has more advantage than invasive prenatal diagnosis,such as non-invasive,painless and safe.It is bound to become the main method of prenatal diagnosis.However,non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is still in its infancy stage and the accuracy and sensitivity of detection are pending and need further clinical validation.This article will present a variety of non-invasive prenatal diagnostic methods using cell-free fetal DNA (RNA) and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.(Chin J Lab Med,2013,36:14-17) Key words: Prenatal diagnosis; Fetus; DNA; RNA