SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2022
Factors affecting low fetal fraction in fetal screening with cell-free DNA in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Diagnostic accuracy of cell-free DNA-based non-invasive prenatal testing for fetal aneuploidies: a systematic review.Frontiers in genetics · 2026Pooled it
- Cell-free DNA as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for adult sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2023Pooled it
- Impact of Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) on the Performance of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT).Prenatal diagnosis · 2026Observational
- Clinical Feasibility of Early First-Trimester Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing: Associations Between Gestational Age, Fetal Fraction, and No-Call Rates.The application of clinical genetics · 2026Article
- Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia disease using digital PCR.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- NIPT of Maternal Plasma-Originated cfDNA: Applications and Guide for the Implementation.The application of clinical genetics · 2025Article
- Early fetal sex determination: the predictive value of anogenital distance and fetal heart rate in first-trimester ultrasound.American journal of neurodegenerative disease · 2025Article
- Article
- Insights into non-informative results from non-invasive prenatal screening through gestational age, maternal BMI, and age analyses.PloS one · 2024Article
- Maternal and Fetal Factors Affecting Cell-Free Fetal DNA (cffDNA) Fraction: A Systematic Review.Journal of reproduction & infertilityReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCell-Free DNA (cfDNA) is a non-invasive perinatal test (NIPT) used to assess fetal anomalies. The ability to detect fetal chromosomal aneuploidies is directly related to a sample's fetal to total DNA fraction, known as the fetal fraction (FF). The minimum FF is considered 4%, and the test result below 4% is uncertain due to low fetal fraction (LFF). This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis to determine the possible factors affecting LFF in cfDNA testing for fetal screening.
methodsPubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Since Direct, Scopus, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, and Persian databases, including Scientific Information Database, Irandoc, and Magiran were searched for studies investigating factors affecting LFF in cfDNA testing from 2000 until the end of 2021. Gathered data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 3.3.070. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal of Cohort Studies tool.
resultsThirteen articles related to the topic were included, and seven related articles were reviewed for meta-analysis. The other six were reviewed qualitatively. Four factors were identified that might have a potential effect on the LFF, of which only gestational age had a significant association with LFF (Pooled mean difference= -1.111, SE = 0.515, 95% CI= -2.121, -0.101, (P-value < 0.05)). Maternal age (P-value = 0.573), maternal weight (P-value = 0.113), and Body Mass Index (P-value = 0.104) had no statically significant effect. The effect size was pooled by mean difference and 95% confidence interval.
conclusionLower gestational age is significantly associated with LFF. Thus, this factor can be considered when interpreting prenatal cfDNA screening tests.
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