We have developed a real-time PCR assay for early fetal gender diagnostics based on the analysis of the Y chromosome-specific multicopy DAZ sequence in the circulating DNA from maternal blood. One fluorescent probe and two pairs of primers used simultaneously in one PCR reaction make it possible to detect as little as 1.5 x 10(-6) ng of DNA isolated from male plasma. Fetal DNA was found both in the plasma and at the surface of cells from mother's blood. The TaqMan real-time PCR assay of the multicopy DAZ sequence in mother's blood detected correctly the fetal gender in the tested group of pregnant women.