Embryo-fetal erythroid cell selection from celomic fluid allows earlier prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies

Objective Celocentesis, which involves aspiration of celomic fluid at 7–9 weeks' gestation, can potentially provide early prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders. The main barrier to wide acceptability of this technique is contamination of the sample by maternal cells. This problem can be overcome through selection of embryo-fetal erythroid precursors, which are found in celomatic fluid. Method Embryo-fetal erythroid precursors were selected by an anti-CD71 MicroBeads method or by direct micromanipulator pickup of the cells selected on the basis of their morphology. Results In our series of 302 singleton pregnancies at high risk for hemoglobinopathies, Celocentesis provided a sample of celomic fluid in all cases. In 100 (33.1%) samples, maternal contamination was absent or very low ( 60%, and selection of embryo-fetal cells was achieved by micromanipulation. In all 302 cases, there was concordance between DNA obtained from celomic fluid samples and fetal or newborn DNA. Conclusions Celocentesis can be a reliable procedure for earlier prenatal diagnosis of fetal monogenic diseases. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.