@article{3052175,
    title = "Improved specificity of NRBC detection in chorionic villus sample
supernatant fluids using anti-zeta and anti-epsilon monoclonal
antibodies",
    author = "Mavrou, A and Kolialexi, A and Zheng, YL and Metaxotou, C and Bianchi, and DW",
    journal = "Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy",
    year = "1999",
    volume = "14",
    number = "5",
    pages = "291-295",
    publisher = "Karger",
    issn = "1015-3837, 1421-9964",
    doi = "10.1159/000020942",
    keywords = "chorionic villus sample supernatant fluid chorionic villus sample
mosaicism; fetal hemoglobin; anti-zeta antibody; anti-epsilon antibody;
prenatal diagnosis",
    abstract = "Objective: Fetal erythrocytes leak from fetal capillaries at the time of
chorionic villus sampling (CVS). it has been reported that in
approximately 60% of CVS cases fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBC)
can be isolated from the supernatant fluid by immunophenotyping with
monoclonal antibody (Ab) against the gamma-chain of fetal hemoglobin and
used as an additional source for confirmation of the fetal karyotype.
However, the increased prevalence of beta-thalassemia mutations in
countries such as Greece results in many pregnant women who produce
gamma-positive cells. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the
fetal and maternal origin of the NRBC. Use of Abs against embryonic
hemoglobin chains zeta and epsilon may increase specificity for fetal
NRBC detection. Methods: Mouse monoclonal Abs against Hb-zeta and
Hb-epsilon were used in order to examine if specificity for fetal NRBC
detection in CVS supernatant fluids could be improved. 41 samples were
studied using anti-zeta and 20 using anti-zeta monoclonal Abs. Results:
Anti-zeta or anti-epsilon positive erythrocytes were, respectively,
identified in 52 of 61 CVS samples and anti-zeta or anti-epsilon
positive NRBC were present in all cases. The mean number of Hb-positive
erythrocytes identified with the anti-zeta Ab was 58 and the mean number
of NRBC 29. The mean number of anti-g positive erythrocytes was 30 and
of NRBC 23. FISH with X and Y chromosome specific probes was performed
in 26 cases and the results were concordant with the CVS karyotype.
Statistical analysis using the correlation test showed that anti-zeta
and anti-epsilon were more specific for the detection of embryonic
NRBCs. Conclusions: Since embryonic monoclonal Abs show increased
specificity, they should be preferentially used for NRBC detection in
CVS supernatant fluids. Furthermore, the increased specificity of
anti-zeta and anti-epsilon Abs may considerably improve prenatal
diagnosis from fetal cells isolated from maternal circulation."
}