Blue Gnome has launched two SNP microarray formats to simultaneously detect copy number imbalance at high resolution and LOH/UPD (loss of heterozygosity/uniparental isodysomy) in the same assay.
It is not possible to detect copy number neutral LOH/UPD using standard array CGH (comparative genomic hybridisation).
This means that conditions such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Zellweger syndrome and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome can be missed without a SNP specific assay.
Copy-neutral LOH, or acquired UPD, is also important in detecting cancer.
Blue Gnome now supplies the Cytochip SNP 4x180K microarray for investigation of constitutional samples, based on the international standard ISCA design, plus SNP-specific probes that enable 10Mb LOH detection.
For cancer sample investigation, the Cytochip Cancer SNP 4x180K includes a gene-enriched design for copy number imbalance, plus SNP probes that detect on average 5Mb LOH.
Blue Gnome intends to extend the range of SNP array designs available in the future.
