RELATION BETWEEN MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF CYTOGENETIC ANOMALIES AND SOME PRENATAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Abstract

Pregnant women are exposed to many biological , e.g microbial agents . The original TORCH complex described clinically include infections caused by toxplasma gonadii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus • type I and II. Diagnosis during pregnancy is confirmed by culture and/or

identification of species-specific immunoglobulins high frequency of seropositives for one or more of these infections, this justifying routine prenatal TORCH screening. Prenatal diagnosis is one of the fields that underwent rapid progress and requires rapid and accurate information comprising both screening (triple marker and ultrasonographic) and definitive testing (cytogenetic analysis). FISH technique is a recent advance in cytogenetic diagnosis. It• is the product of marriage of molecular biology and conventional cytogenetics thus, bridging the gap between the microscope and the molecule. This prenatal testing procedure may provide faster results for perinatologists and more rapid reassurance for high-risk patients. Conventional culture is still considered the gold standard since the mid

1960s but it is limited by the laborious and time-consuming procedures for amniotic fluid cells to go through enough divisions to provide a sufficient number of cells for metaphase chromosome analysis.