A Paradigm Shift: Considerations in Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening

Cell-free DNA analysis, also called non-invasive prenatal screening and IPS, has emerged as an alternative to the conventional analysis of maternal serum markers.  Modern molecular techniques have now achieved sensitivity for the direct detection and analysis of placental DNA fragments that circulate in the maternal bloodstream and serve as a proxy for fetal aneuploidy. This technology is transforming the field of prenatal screening and has significant implications for laboratories, patients, and physicians.