OBJECTIVETo determine the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to the diagnosis of chromosome abnormality in genetic diseases and prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSFISH was performed using appropriate probes, including alpha-satellite DNA probe, chromosome sequence specific probe and whole chromosome painting probe, to examine the blood samples from 36 patients who were suspected of having chromosome abnormality by conventional cytogenetics, and to examine the amniocytes from 45 pregnant women who were in need of prenatal diagnosis.

RESULTSAmong 36 patients, the following karyotypes 45, X; 45, X/46, XX; 45, X/46, Xr(X); 46, X, i(Xq); 47, XXY; 46, XX, t(4;7); 47, XYY; 47, XXX; 47, XXY, inv(7); 46, XY, inv(7); 47, XX, +21 were detected by FISH. Of the fetuses of the 45 pregnant women, two fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities were diagnosed by FISH; the karyotypes were 47, XX, +18 and 46, XY, der(15) t(Y;15) respectively.

CONCLUSIONFISH can precisely and rapidly detect the chromosome abnormalities. It is a complement to the conventional cytogenetics and can be widely used in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and prenatal diagnosis.