Hypermethylated RASSF1A in Maternal Plasma: A Universal Fetal DNA Marker that Improves the Reliability of Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis

Abstract

Hypermethylated RASSF1A is a universal marker for fetal DNA and is readily detectable in maternal plasma. When applied to prenatal RhD genotyping, this marker allows the detection of false-negative results caused by low fetal DNA concentrations in maternal plasma. This new marker can also be applied to many other prenatal diagnostic and monitoring scenarios.