An improved method to extract DNA from 1 ml of uncultured amniotic fluid from patients at less than 16 weeks' gestation

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e59956. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059956. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop an improved technique for DNA extraction from 1 ml of uncultured AF from patients with a gestational age less than 16 weeks and to allow the use of array-CGH without DNA amplification. The DNA extraction protocol was tested in a series of 90 samples including 41 of uncultured AF at less than 16 weeks of gestation. Statistical analyses were performed using linear regression. To evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of array-CGH on 1 ml of uncultured AF, five samples with an abnormal karyotype (three with aneuploidy, two with structural abnormalities) and five with a normal karyotype were studied. This protocol was reproducible and we were able to show a great improvement with higher yield of DNA obtained from all patients, including those with a gestational age less than 16 weeks (p = 0.003). All chromosomal abnormalities were detected and characterized by array-CGH and normal samples showed normal profiles. This new DNA extraction protocol associated with array-CGH analysis could be used in prenatal testing even when gestational age is less than 16 weeks, especially in cases with abnormal ultrasound findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amniotic Fluid / chemistry*
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Comparative Genomic Hybridization
  • DNA / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Gestational Age*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimesters*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • DNA

Grants and funding

The project was financial by a grant from the University Hospital of Dijon and from the regional council of Burgundy (AOI 2008). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.