Abstract: Methods for identifying a target cell and for genetic analysis are provided, which comprise in situ hybridizing of a target sequence in a target cell with a complementary labeled sequence and cell identification of the target cell by the aid of detecting hybridized sequence by flow cytometry. Methods for quantifying fetal mRNA within a maternal blood sample are also provided, which comprise amplifying fetal cell specific mRNA, synthesizing labeled sequences comprising a sequence being complementary or partly complementary to said amplified fetal cell specific mRNA, hybridizing said labeled sequence with said amplified fetal cell specific mRNA and detecting the hybridized labeled complementary sequence.