Cytogenetics Laboratory


Overview

The Cytogenetics Laboratory at TriCore/UNM is a full service laboratory providing complete cytogenetic services including chromosome analysis of bone marrow, peripheral blood, amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, tissue, products of conception, and tumor specimens. In addition, the laboratory offers a full range of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays on fresh specimens and a variety of FISH testing on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. In conjunction with companion diagnostic testing in hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology, the cytogenetics laboratory contributes to the comprehensive testing necessary for complete diagnostic evaluation. Interpretation of the cytogenetic analysis is made by a board-certified clinical Cytogeneticist, and clinical correlations are made by pathologists who are closely affiliated with the laboratory.

Highlights

  • Karyotype for hematologic, solid tumor, and constitutional disorders
  • Chromosomal microarray (CMA) for children with intellectual disability, autism, and developmental delay to detect chromosome aberrations genomewide including DNA copy number gains or losses, mosaicism, or absence of heterozygosity (aka, copy neutral loss of heterozygosity or CN-LOH) using Affymetrix CytoScan Dx
  • FISH screening for aneuploidy of prenatal and newborn specimens is available using the FDA approved AneuVysion™ probe set from Vysis, Inc.
  • FISH evaluation of suspected microdeletion syndromes is available including DiGeorge syndrome, Prader-Willi/Angelman syndromes
  • FISH evaluation for specific leukemia and lymphoma rearrangements is offered and includes BCR/ABL, PML/RARA, CBFB/MYH11, MYC/IGH, CCND1/IGH, and BCL2/IGH
  • FISH Panels are offered for interphase diagnostic evaluation of CLL, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, AML, MDS, and eosinophilia
  • FISH panel for Philadelphia-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL)
  • FISH evaluation of urine for bladder cancer is available using the FDA-approved UroVysion™ probe set from Vysis, Inc.
  • FISH evaluation of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast specimens for HER2/neu amplification is available using the FDA-approved PathVysion™ probe kit from Vysis, Inc.
  • FISH evaluation of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tumor specimens for ALK2p23, ROS1, RET, and MET1 rearrangements/aberration is available using the FDA approved probe kit from Vysis, Inc.
  • In addition to cytogenetic services currently provided, there is ongoing new test development and validation
  • We take a consultative and integrated approach to cytogenetic analysis, and work closely with clients to correlate cytogenetic and FISH results with the results from other modalities (hematopathology, flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics). Our focus is to provide a comprehensive picture of the patient’s cytogenetic status/disease course
  • The cytogenetics laboratory works in close collaboration with our molecular genetic pathology service, and flow cytometry program to provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments

Contact Information:

Timothy R. McBride, MS, CG(ASCP)
Technical Supervisor, Cytogenetics
TriCore Reference Laboratories
1001 Woodward NE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-938-8681
timothy.mcbride@tricore.org


Hongyan Xie, Ph.D.
Director
Cytogenetics Laboratory
505-938-8644
hongyan.xie@tricore.org


Qian-Yun Zhang, M.D, Ph.D.
Professor
505-938-8399
QZhang@salud.unm.edu