Prenatal diagnosis by cytokine-induced proliferation of fetal T-cells

摘要

The invention provides improved methods of prenatal diagnosis that can be performed earlier in pregnancy, and/or with greater safety, and/or rapidity, and/or with greater accuracy than conventional methods. A volume of amniotic fluid containing fetal cells is extracted from a pregnant woman, and the fetal T-cells are propagated in a culture medium comprising one or more cytokines. The fetal T-cells are then diagnosed for genetic defects.