The Department of Cytogenetics offers diagnostic services for both prenatal and postnatal conditions. On average, we process ~ 2000 samples annually.

The services offered by the department include the following:

• Karyotype that aids in the detection of chromosomal abnormalities for both constitutional disorders and cancer.  
• Rapid aneuploidy tests such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QFPCR), for the detection of aneuploidies of chromosomes 13,18,21 and sex chromosomes.
• Chromosomal microarray (CMA) permits the detection of aneuploidies and large copy number variations in the form of microdeletions and microduplications.
• Noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT), is a screening test that is offered during pregnancy to identify if the fetuses are at risk of having chromosomal aneuploidies of 21,13,18 and abnormalities of sex chromosomes.
• Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facility in the form of focused exome panels and whole exome (including mitochondrial genes) testing for germline disorders. NGS platforms perform sequencing of millions of small fragments of DNA in parallel and aid in the detection of a spectrum of DNA variation in a human genome comprising of small base changes (substitutions), insertions and deletions of DNA and large genomic deletions of exons.

These genetic tests provide information about outcomes, and recurrence risk to patients and their families and help to plan specific treatment.

The department also conducts two training programmes, one for medical faculty which is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, and one for technologists.

The department conducts educational activities (CME and workshops) to train students, medical practitioners and faculty.