A method for detecting a paternally inherited nucleic acid of fetal origin performed on a maternal serum or plasma sample from a pregnant female, which method comprises</claim-text> amplifying a paternally inherited nucleic acid from the serum or a sample and detecting the presence of a paternally inherited nucleic acid of fetal origin in the sample. view more

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the foetal nucleic acid is amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the foetal nucleic acid is detected by means of a sequence specific probe.

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the presence of a foetal nucleic acid sequence from the Y chromosome is detected.

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the presence of a foetal nucleic acid from a paternally-inherited non-Y chromosome is detected.

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>1</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the sample contains foetal DNA at a fractional concentration of total DNA of at least about 0.14%, without subjecting it to a foetal DNA enrichment step.

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>19</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the fractional concentration of foetal DNA is at least about 0.39%.

A method of performing a prenatal diagnosis, which method comprises the steps of:</claim-text> (i) providing a maternal blood sample; (ii) separating the sample into a cellular and a non-cellular fraction; (iii) detecting the presence of a nucleic of foetal origin in the non-cellular fraction according to the method of claim 1; (iv) providing a diagnosis based on the presence and/or quantity and/or sequence of the foetal nucleic acid. view more

The method according to claim <HIL><BOLD>21</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the non-cellular fraction as used in step (iii) is a plasma fraction.

A method for detecting a paternally inherited nucleic acid on a maternal blood sample, which method comprises:</claim-text> removing all or substantially all nucleated and anucleated cell populations from the blood sample, amplifying a paternally ited nucleic acid from the remaining fluid and subjecting the amplified nucleic acid to a test for the Paternally inherited fetal nucleic acid. view more

A method for performing a prenatal diagnosis on a maternal blood sample, which method comprises</claim-text> obtaining a non-cellular fraction of the blood sample amplifying a paternally inherited nucleic acid from the non-cellular fraction and rming nucleic acid analysis on the amplified nucleic acid to detect paternally inherited fetal nucleic acid. view more