Intermediate
Technical
IVT
cell-free DNA
Circulating DNA fragments in maternal blood used for non-invasive prenatal screening.
Full Definition
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) refers to short DNA fragments that circulate freely in the bloodstream, originating from both maternal and fetal cells. During pregnancy, approximately 10-15% of cfDNA in maternal blood is of fetal origin, allowing for non-invasive prenatal screening of chromosomal conditions. This technology has revolutionized prenatal screening by providing high accuracy for detecting trisomies 21, 18, and 13, as well as sex chromosome abnormalities, using only a maternal blood sample.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound adjective (cell-free DNA testing).
In Context
- "Cell-free DNA screening detected an increased risk for trisomy 21." — Prenatal screening report
- "The cell-free DNA test requires adequate fetal fraction for accurate results." — Laboratory protocol
Also known as
cfDNA
circulating cell-free DNA
Don't confuse with
fetal DNA
maternal DNA