Products of Conception, Ploidy by Flow Cytometry

Use

The test helps differentiate between partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) and complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) by analyzing the DNA content via flow cytometry. Partial moles are usually triploid, while complete moles are diploid, tetraploid, or aneuploid. Most products of conception are diploid, where a diploid histogram does not suggest a complete mole unless clinically and microscopically supported. Persistent trophoblastic disease occurs in about 20% of diploid and tetraploid complete moles. Aneuploid complete moles may have a lesser risk for persistent disease. In rare cases, triploid results can indicate nonmolar triploidy, not associated with gestational trophoblastic disease, thus requiring clinical and microscopic correlation.