In prenatal paternity DNA testing, ‘FF’ refers to the percentage of foetal DNA (Fetal Fraction).Fetal DNA is the fetus’ DNA in the mother’s blood and is a very important component in Non-Invasive Prenatal DNA Testing (NIPT) and DNA paternity testing.
Required Fetal Fraction (FF)
Generally, a minimum percentage of foetal DNA of at least 4% is required for prenatal paternity DNA testing. FF is a term used to refer to the percentage of DNA derived from the fetus. Below is more information on FF:
Minimum quantity required:.
Most NIPT and prenatal DNA testing can provide accurate results if the percentage of foetal DNA (FF) is at least 4-5%.
If the FF is less than 4%, the test is less accurate and the results may be indeterminate.
Ideal FF:.
Ideally, an FF of 8% or more provides even more accurate results.
FF tends to increase as pregnancy progresses, especially after the sixth week of pregnancy, when sufficient amounts of foetal-derived DNA are often present in the blood.
Weeks of gestation and FF:.
Fetal-derived DNA begins to be detected in maternal blood at about 6 weeks’ gestation, but FF increases as the number of weeks of gestation progresses.
Most prenatal DNA tests are usually carried out after the eighth week of pregnancy.
In cases of insufficient FF
If the percentage of DNA of fetal origin is insufficient, the following actions may be taken:
Re-collect blood and redo the test.
Waiting for the pregnancy weeks to progress may increase the percentage of foetal-derived DNA.
Conclusion
Prenatal paternity DNA testing requires a minimum percentage of foetal-derived DNA (FF) of at least 4%.Testing after the sixth week of pregnancy increases the likelihood of obtaining sufficient foetal-derived DNA.
略歴
- 1996年 慶應義塾大学医学部 卒業
- 2004年 慶應義塾大学 医学博士号 取得
- 2005年 慶應義塾大学 皮膚科学教室 助手
- 2008年 ヒロ皮フ形成クリニック 開業
- 2009年 医療法人社団福美会 理事長
- 2015年 医療法人社団福美会 理事
資格・所属
- CAPラボディレクター
- 日本皮膚科学会 皮膚科専門医
- 日本医師会 産業医
- 東京衛生検査所 指導監督医
この記事は、 ヒロクリニックNIPPTの編集・監修体制 にもとづき、資格を持つ医師が内容を確認しています。
堤 修一 (つつみ しゅういち)
医師・医学博士 / ヒロクリニック博多駅前院 院長
略歴
- 1993年 東京大学医学部医学科 卒業
- 2016〜2019年 東京大学先端科学技術研究センター 准教授
発信・関連リンク
この記事は、 ヒロクリニックNIPPTの編集・監修体制 にもとづき、資格を持つ医師が内容を確認しています。
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Supervisor of the article

Dr. Hiroshi Oka
Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Medical Doctor




