Abstract: In the current prenatal programmes，definitive diagnosis of fetal genetic or chromosomal conditions is conducted through fetal sampling by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. To obviate the risks of fetal miscarriage，non-invasive prenatal diagnostic tests based on cell-free fetal DNA analysis has been developed fastly. To date，fetal sex and rhesus D status determination by circulating fetal DNA analysis is performed clinically in many centres. Strategies for the non-invasive diagnosis of monogenic diseases and fetal aneuploidy have been achieved. We believe that many of the non-invasive prenatal tests could be introduced to the clinics extensively.

Key words: Prenatal diagnosis, Chromosomes, DNA, Aneuploidy, Sex preselection, Blood grouping and crossmatching, Genetic diseases, inborn, Laboratory techniques and procedures, Cytogenetic analysis