Rapid sexing of native amniotic cells by hybridization to a cloned Y chromosome DNA probe.

A cloned DNA fragment from a Y chromosome genomic library was used for prenatal sex determination. Native cells from as little as 0.5 ml of amniotic fluid were analyzed by a dot blot hybridization technique without prior cell culture. Identification of male fetuses was possible within 3 days and confirmed by subsequent conventional karyotyping. This method of rapid sex screening is an alternative to the other methods of prenatal determination to the conventional chromosome analysis because it is a more rapid method, and to the karyotyping of chorion biopsy material because amniocentesis seems to have a lower risk and can still be performed when chorion biopsy is not more possible.