Cytogenetics lab
Contact the Cytogenetics lab
Phone: 7825 3237
Email: SCHN-CHW-CytogenLab@health.nsw.gov.au
Postal address: The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead 2145
The Cytogenetics laboratory is service within the Sydney Genome Diagnostics (SGD) services based at The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW). We provide a NATA accredited service for the diagnosis of a wide range of constitutional (blood), prenatal and acquired (leukaemia, lymphoma and tumour) chromosome disorders.
We perform G-band karyotyping, fluorescence in-situ hybridsation (FISH), CGH and SNP Chromosome Microarray [CMA], quantitative fluorescent-PCR prenatal aneuploidy screening (QF – PCR) and RT-PCR testing (soft-tissue tumour biopsy specimens only).
These services are extended to all states and forms part of both the CHW Division of Laboratory Services and the Western Sydney Genetics Program.
Specimen collection
| Test Required | Sample Type | Specimen Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Chromosome microarray | Peripheral Blood | 3-10mL collected in purple top (EDTA) tube |
DNA Amniotic Fluid * Chorionic Villi * Bone Marrow Solid Tumour | Minimum of 1.0μg of DNA (concentration between 100 and 500 ng/μL) 15-20mL collected in sterile transport tube 15-40mg collected in sterile transport tube with tissue culture media 2-4mL collected in either Lithium Heparin or EDTA 1mm3 piece of tissue or core [needle] biopsy in sterile saline. | |
| G-band karyotype | Peripheral Blood | 2-10mL collected in green top lithium heparin tube |
| Bone Marrow | 2-4mL collected in green top lithium heparin tube | |
| Solid Tumour | 0.5cm3 in transport media | |
| Chromosome Instability Testing | Test is no longer offered by The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Test is now performed by Pathology Queensland. | |
| FISH | Peripheral Blood | 2-10mL collected in green top lithium heparin tube |
| Touch Imprints | 3-4 slides in 95% ethanol | |
| FACS Sorted Cells | 100,000-200,000 cells in PBS | |
Fixed cell suspension Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissue | 3-4 + charged slides with tissue cut at 4µm and an H&E slide indicating the region of interest (please contact the laboratory for details) | |
| QF-PCR | Amniotic Fluid * | 15-20mL collected in sterile transport tube |
| Chorionic Villi * | 15-40mg collected in sterile transport tube with tissue culture media | |
| RT-PCR | Tumour | 0.5cm³ snap frozen in liquid nitrogen |
| Cell Culture & Cryopreservation Facility | Contact Biochemical Genetics: (02) 9845 3654 | |
| DNA Storage | Contact Molecular Genetics: (02) 9845 3244 |
Senior staff
Head of Department (Principal Scientist): Mr Dale Wright
B.App.Sc, MSc, FHGSA (Cytogenetics). FFSc RCPA
Phone: 7825 3221
Email: Dale.Wright@health.nsw.gov.au
Deputy Head of Department [2IC] (Senior Scientist): Mr Luke St. Heaps
BSc, MSc(Med)
Phone: 7825 3220
Email: Luke.Stheaps@health.nsw.gov.au
Chromosome Microarray/RT-PCR (Senior Scientist): Mr Artur Darmanian
BSc, MSc
Phone: 7825 3228
Email: Artur.Darmanian@health.nsw.gov.au
Oncology Microarray/Oncology Cytogenetics (Senior Scientist): Ms Dorothy Hung
B.App.Sc, MSc, FHGSA (Cytogenetics). FFSc RCPA
Phone: 7825 3223
Email: Dorothy.Hung@health.nsw.gov.au
Oncology and Blood Cytogenetics (Senior Scientist): Mr Praveen Sharma
B.Sc, MScM, MHGSA (Cytogenetics)
Phone: 7825 3224
Email: Praveen.Sharma@health.nsw.gov.au
Prenatal Microarray/QF-PCR (Senior Scientist): Mr Con Ngo
B.Sc. FHGSA (Cytogenetics)
Phone: 7825 3231
Email: Con.Ngo@health.nsw.gov.au