DNA and RNA fractions can be isolated from a variety of body fluids
including whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, saliva and cerebrospinal
fluid from both patients and healthy individuals. Such isolates can be
exploited in the early detection of clinical disorders, stratification
of patients for treatment, treatment monitoring and clinical follow-up.
In addition, the use in fetal medicine allows the early detection of
fetal sex, Rh factor and aneuploid disorders as well as following both
fetal and premature born infant development. This volume is intended as
a primer for those who are interested in entering the field of
circulating nucleic acids.
The areas covered in this volume include:
- Background and general biology of circulating nucleic acids
- Methodology
- Applications of circulating nucleic acids
- Quality Assurance
- Ethics