Patent ID: 8288100
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting the presence of fetal DNA in a sample from a pregnant woman, comprising the sequential steps of: (a) treating a first plasma or serum sample from the woman with an agent that differentially modifies methylated and unmethylated DNA; (b) detecting the presence of methylated DNA sequence of RASSF1A in the first sample; (c) determining that the sample contains fetal DNA based on the presence of methylated RASSF1A DNA sequence in step (b); and (d) when and only when methylated RASSFIA DNA sequence is present in the first sample in step (b), determining the amount of a fetal DNA sequence other than RASSFIA in the same sample or in a second, identical plasma or serum sample from the woman.