Maternal Cell Contamination

Key Information

Lab:

Molecular

TAT:

14 days

Price:

$350

CPT Code(s):

81265

Test Code:

DMCC

Order Form

Maternal Cell Contamination

Maternal cell contamination (MCC) testing is a comparative analysis between maternal and prenatal/fetal DNA. It is used to determine whether a fetal sample has been contaminated with maternal cells, ensuring the accuracy of prenatal testing results.
MCC requires both a prenatal/fetal sample and a maternal sample, and is required for all molecular prenatal testing and Chorionic Villi Sample (CVS)s (CVS). MCC is suggested for cord blood, but not required.

Technical Information

This test is performed by Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis.
Maternal and prenatal samples undergo DNA isolation by routine laboratory procedures and are subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of nine polymorphic STR loci plus Amelogenin.
Amplicons from the maternal and prenatal samples are sized by capillary electrophoresis, and then directly compared to determine if maternal cell contamination is present in the prenatal sample.

Specimen Requirements

A maternal sample is required. Accepted maternal sample types include blood, extracted DNA, and saliva swab. Blood and saliva kits are available by request.
Collect 3-4ml of whole blood in an EDTA (lavender top) tube.
Send approximately 5µg of extracted DNA at a requested concentration of 90-130 ng/µl.
Saliva samples must be submitted in an approved saliva kit.

Transport Instructions

The maternal blood specimen should be kept at room temperature and delivered via overnight shipping. FedEx is preferred. If shipment is delayed by one or two days, the specimen should be refrigerated and shipped at room temperature. Do not freeze the specimen.
Extracted DNA should be sent at room temperature via overnight delivery.
Saliva is stable at room temperature and can be delivered via overnight or ground shipping

Prenatal Specimen Requirements

Amniotic Fluid: Direct amniotic fluid will be accepted for analysis given there is sufficient volume for back-up culture to be established. A back-up culture at a reference lab OR Greenwood lab is required. Additional charges may apply if cell culture is required after receipt of the sample. If sending direct fluid for molecular analysis only, 10-20 ml of amniotic fluid is requested. Chromosome studies will require an additional 10-15 ml of fluid.
Chorionic Villi Sample (CVS): 10-50 mg of chorionic villi is requested in a sterile tube with CVS media. Direct testing on CVS is not available; an additional 1-3 weeks may be needed for cultures to grow.
Cultured amniocytes/CVS: 2x T25 confluent flasks
Product of Conception (POC): Using a sterile technique, obtain POC and place in a sterile transport container with tissue transport media or a sterile solution such as a balanced salt solution. DO NOT allow the specimen to come into contact with formalin or other fixatives if chromosome analysis is ordered as fixed tissue will not grow for chromosome analysis. Chromosome analysis cannot be performed on FFPE samples.
Please refer to the specimen requirements above for the maternal sample.

Prenatal Transport Instructions

Amniotic fluid should be kept at room temperature; do not freeze or refrigerate. Specimen should be sent by courier or overnight mail to arrive at the laboratory the next day. FedEx is preferred.
CVS and cultured amniocytes should be kept at room temperature; do not freeze or refrigerate. Specimen should be sent by courier or overnight mail to arrive at the laboratory the next day. FedEx is preferred.
POC should be should kept at room temperature if transported immediately. If the specimen is not being immediately transported to the laboratory, it may be refrigerated. Do not freeze. The sample should be sent by courier or overnight mail to arrive at the laboratory within 24 hours.

Connect With Our Experts

Call 1-800-473-9411 to speak with our team of laboratory genetic counselors for questions or additional information.

Robin Fletcher, MS, CGC
Falecia Thomas, MS, CGC
Alex Finley, MS, CGC

Email the Lab