Rapid prenatal diagnosis of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

Autoradiographic demonstration of 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation in small numbers of amniotic fluid cells cultured on coverslips is a rapid and practical technique in the prenatal diagnosis of the Lesch-Nyhan mutation. An affected male fetus, a normal male fetus, and a heterozygous female fetus were identified within 14 days after amniocentesis in three pregancies at risk for the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.