Detection of viral deoxyribonucleic acid in the amniotic fluid of low-risk pregnancies by polymerase chain reaction

The DNA of various viruses may not be present in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with low risks of viral infection. Researchers analyzed amniotic fluid samples from 277 pregnant women who were not at risk for viral infection but who underwent amniocentesis for older age or abnormal levels of alpha-fetoprotein. The polymerase chain reaction technique detected DNA in 87% of the samples but did not detect viral DNA in any of these samples. Detection of DNA from viruses such as adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, and enterovirus in amniotic fluid has been associated with a high risk of fetal infection that may in turn cause developmental abnormalities.