Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information

What is a prenatal mobile-free DNA (cfDNA) screening?

Prenatal mobile-free DNA (cfDNA) screening is a blood examination for pregnant women of all ages. For the duration of being pregnant, some of an unborn baby’s DNA circulates in the mother’s bloodstream. A cfDNA screening checks this DNA to come across out if the baby is much more very likely to have Down syndrome or a different ailment prompted by a trisomy.

A trisomy is a ailment of the chromosomes. Chromosomes are the parts of your cells that include your genes. Genes are parts of DNA passed down from your mother and father. They carry information that establishes your exclusive attributes, this kind of as top and eye shade.

  • Persons ordinarily have 46 chromosomes, divided into 23 pairs, in each and every mobile.
  • If just one of these pairs has an extra copy of a chromosome, it really is identified as a trisomy. A trisomy brings about modifications in the way the overall body and brain develop.
  • In Down syndrome, there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. This is also known as trisomy 21. Down syndrome is the most widespread chromosome ailment in the United States.
  • Other trisomy conditions consist of Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), wherever there is an extra copy of chromosome 18, and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), wherever there is an extra copy of chromosome 13. These conditions are uncommon but much more serious than Down syndrome. Most infants with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13 die inside the very first year of lifestyle.

A cfDNA screening has quite minimal risk to you and your baby, but it won’t be able to inform you for absolutely sure irrespective of whether your baby has a chromosome ailment. Your wellbeing treatment supplier will will need to purchase other assessments to validate or rule out a diagnosis.

Other names: mobile-free fetal DNA, cffDNA, non-invasive prenatal examination, NIPT