What type of chromosome testing is available for POC?
Traditionally, the most common method of chromosome analysis is karyotyping, and less commonly, FISH. Newer methods include advanced technology such as microarrays. Chromosome analysis by karyotype Karyotyping requires that the POC cells first be grown in the laboratory, a process called “cell culture”. The cells are then stopped at a certain point in their division when the chromosomes become visible under a regular light microscope. For POC samples, chromosome analysis by karyotyping typically takes a few weeks to months to return results. Advantages • Analyzes all 23 pairs of chromosomes: can detect aneuploidy, and large deletions or duplications (missing or extra segments of chromosome material), chromosome rearrangements and chromosome mosaicism (when some of the cells have a different number of chromosomes than the others). Limitations • Cells that are degenerating, dying or already dead are not suitable for this type of chromosome analysis since they cannot be grown in the labor
