View article

BACKGROUND: Plasma and serum samples have been used to detect cell‐free genomic DNA in serum or plasma in certain pathologic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, pulmonary embolism, and malignancies, as well as in fetal cell chimerisms in maternal serum and/or plasma. In this study, baseline concentrations of cell‐free DNA in serum and plasma samples were evaluated for the study of posttransfusion chimerism.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: DNA was extracted from fresh or stored (4°C for 1‐6 days) normal donor serum or plasma samples (ACD; EDTA) by using reagents from an HIV assay kit. After incubation and washing of samples, purified DNA was amplified with HLA DQ‐α primers (GH26 and 27) or human Y‐chromosome primers (SA and SD) to quantitate the concentration of genomic DNA.

RESULTS: Fresh serum samples had concentrations of cell‐free DNA that were about …