Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA)--new possibilities of prenatal diagnosis

Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) is a relatively new method of molecular diagnosis. It enables a relative quantitative assessment of up to 50 different PCR amplicons in one reaction by the use of a very small amount of examined DNA. Nowadays MLPA is becoming a very helpful tool in prenatal diagnosis and is widely used for the detection of aneuploidies, familial single gene disorders, common microdeletion syndromes, sub-telomeric alterations and identification of marker chromosomes in fetuses. This review demonstrates possible applications of MLPA in prenatal diagnosis.