Two-colour immunocytochemical staining of gamma (gamma) and epsilon (epsilon) type haemoglobin in fetal red cells

We have developed a two-colour immunocytochemical staining method for the detection of fetal and embryonic haemoglobin in erythroid cells. The method was applied to study these haemoglobin types in fetal red cells. Specimens from fetal blood (10 weeks), cord blood and fetal liver (14 weeks) as well as chorionic villus samples (10-13 weeks) were stained for gamma and epsilon chains using CY3 and FITC labelled antibodies. Morphometric analysis was applied to determine cell size. Samples from organs involved in early embryonic development contained relatively large erythroblasts expressing the epsilon globin chain (megaloblasts); later in gestation the gamma chain was co-expressed by the same cells which ultimately became smaller and contained HbF (alpha(2)gamma(2)) only. This phenomenon was confirmed in CVS samples in which all cell types were abundantly present. Since fetal erythroblasts are considered candidate cells for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using FISH, we studied the phenotype of erythroblasts circulating in the maternal blood. The majority of erythroblasts in maternal blood appeared to be of the relatively small gamma globin-containing cell type. However, careful screening of the same maternal blood samples also revealed erythroblasts expressing epsilon or epsilon and gamma globins simultaneously, although at low frequency. Control specimens from non-pregnant women did not show nucleated red cells expressing either of the haemoglobin types. These observations may contribute to the better recognition of fetal cells in the maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Genetic horoscopes: is it all in the genes? Points for regulatory control of direct-to-consumer genetic testing

The development of tests for genetic susceptibility to common complex diseases has raised concerns. These concerns relate to evaluation of the scientific and clinical validity and utility of the tests, quality assurance of laboratories and testing services, advice and protection for the consumer and the appropriate regulatory and policy response. How these concerns are interpreted and addressed is an ongoing debate. If the possibility of using the discoveries from genomic science to improve health is to be realised without losing public confidence, then improvements in the evaluation and mechanisms for control of supply of tests may be as important as the science itself

Fetal cell detection in maternal blood:A study in 236 samples using erythroblast morphology, DAB and HbF staining, and FISH analysis

A protocol to detect fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) was tested in 217 pregnant women and in 19 nonpregnant controls. All the pregnant women were sampled after chorionic villus sampling (CVS); 20 were also sampled pre-CVS. NRBC recognition was based upon morphology by using staining of hemoglobin with 3,3-diaminobenzidin (DAB) or by immunocytochemical staining for fetal hemoglobin (HbF), This was combined with FISH analysis for both the X- and Y-chromosomes on the same cells. Progressive refinement of the methods increased the number of cases where NRBCs were detected from 53% (DAB) to 75% and 78% for DAB and HbF staining, respectively, with on average 43 NRBCs (range, 1-220), DAB gave a slightly higher yield than HbF in the lower cell count range (<25), In 6 out of 18 controls, NRBCs were detected with DAB, vs. 1 out of 19 (5%) with HbF, FISH analysis in 41 cases resulted in correct sex prediction in 80% (DAB) and 89% (HbF), respectively. Our data demonstrated an increase of cases with NRBCs (30% to 75%), as well as a rise of the mean number of NRBCs (6 to 29 cells), after CVS, We conclude that DAB staining is a straightforward way to screen for the presence of NRBCs in maternal blood, but is not specific for NRBCs of fetal origin. HbF immunophenotyping is a reliable marker for fetal NRBCs, which detected slightly fewer NRBCs than DAB-staining, but improved sex prediction and significantly reduced false-positive results. CVS at 10-13 weeks of gestation causes a significant increase of NRBCs in maternal blood. These data indicate that further refinement of NRBC detection is needed before application of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis using maternal blood is feasible. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc