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The utilization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA testing and decrease in invasive diagnostic procedures: an institutional experience

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To characterize the patient population utilizing circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) testing at a large academic center and evaluate trends in the performance of invasive diagnostic procedures.

Study design:

A retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent cell-free DNA testing from May to December 2012 was performed.

Result:

During the study period, 206 patients had cell-free DNA testing. Of those, 75% (155/206) were of ages 35 years. Of those undergoing ccffDNA testing, 41% had positive aneuploidy screening and 38% had abnormal ultrasound findings. Only 7% of the patients with negative ccffDNA testing opted for an invasive diagnostic procedure compared with 60% with positive testing (P<0.01). The rate of invasive procedures decreased from 5.9% of all visits to the center during a similar 8-month period in 2010 to 4.1% of all visits during the study period (P<0.01).

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that ccffDNA testing leads to reduced uptake of invasive procedures.

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Correspondence to K E Pettit.

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Competing interests

ADH and LK have previously been paid consultants for the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (San Diego, CA). The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Pettit, K., Hull, A., Korty, L. et al. The utilization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA testing and decrease in invasive diagnostic procedures: an institutional experience. J Perinatol 34, 750–753 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.102

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