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Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Array CGH for Detection of Genomic Copy Number Variants
Published on: February 21, 2015
Prevalence of recurrent pathogenic microdeletions and microduplications in over 9500 pregnancies
Francesca Romana Grati1, Denise Molina Gomes2, Jose Carlos Pinto B Ferreira3
1TOMA Advanced Biomedical Assays S.p.A, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Objectives:
The implementation of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in prenatal testing for all patients has not achieved a consensus. Technical alternatives such as Prenatal BACs-on-Beads(TM) (PNBoBs(TM) ) have thus been applied. The aim of this study was to provide the frequencies of the submicroscopic defects detectable by PNBoBs(TM) under different prenatal indications.
Methods:
A total of 9648 prenatal samples were prospectively analyzed by karyotyping plus PNBoBs(TM) and classified by prenatal indication. The frequencies of the genomic defects and their 95%CIs were calculated for each indication.
Results:
The overall incidence of cryptic imbalances was 0.7%. The majority involved the DiGeorge syndrome critical region (DGS). The additional diagnostic yield of PNBoBs(TM) in the population with a low a priori risk was 1/298. The prevalences of DGS microdeletion and microduplication in the low-risk population were 1/992 and 1/850, respectively.
Conclusions:
The constant a priori risk for common pathogenic cryptic imbalances detected by this technology is estimated to be ~0.3%. A prevalence higher than that previously estimated was found for the 22q11.2 microdeletion. Their frequencies were independent of maternal age. These data have implications for cell-free DNA screening tests design and justify prenatal screening for 22q11 deletion, as early recognition of DGS improves its prognosis.
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