cfDNA
‘cfDNA’ is the abbreviation used for cell-free DNA. Used prenatally, fetal cfDNA describes a screening test for fetal aneuploidy where circulating DNA fragments that are primarily derived from the placenta are detected in the maternal plasma. Alternative abbreviations include (1) NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) and (2) NIPS (non-invasive prenatal screening).
Circulating DNA fragments from tumors can also be detected in blood samples from individuals with cancer and are referred to as cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).
