The Center for Human Genetics at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, has begun assessment of Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) Cytosure arrays for use in prenatal diagnostic research.
The centre already uses Cytosure arrays for post-natal research applications and is now exploring their potential for prenatal screening.
The pilot study is due to last 12 months and will use the arrays alongside existing screening techniques for selected prenatal screens.
Researchers from OGT are collaborating with the centre's constitutional cytogenetics laboratory headed by Prof Joris Vermeesch.
'We are investigating the extent to which high-resolution aCGH can improve diagnosis in selected cases that show normal karyotype results but abnormal developmental phenotypes,' said Vermeesch.
'In addition, for research purposes, we are cataloguing unknown genetic abnormalities to help us better understand genetic variation in the future,' he added.
'It is hoped that the higher resolution of the Cytosure arrays will enhance the understanding of genetic variations,' said John Anson, research and development director at OGT.
