No evidence of fetal DNA persistence in maternal plasma after pregnancy

Maddalena Smid1, Silvia Galbiati, Antonia Vassallo

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, H. San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.

Human Genetics
|February 28, 2003
PubMed

Short- and long-term persistence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma has been investigated. Short-term persistence at very low concentration was detected in 47 out of 105 women within two days after delivery. Twelve out of 13 samples re-tested within three days scored negative. No long-term persistence was detected in 172 women who had previous sons or abortions. Molecular microchimerism due to circulating fetal DNA persisting from previous pregnancies should not hamper non-invasive plasma-based prenatal testing.