Tasks of the genetic laboratory unit:.

1- Offer all genetic tests necessary for patients to reach accurate diagnosis.

2 – Analyze all newborns samples to avoid complication of diseases and start treatment in the early days of life under national newborn screening program.

3. Share in premarital examination to discover those with a reproductive problem and to help in childbearing by IVF for some cases to avoid having children with genetic diseases through PGD examination of the fertilized egg before the implantation of the uterus.

 

Newborn screening labs

The laboratories were established in October 2014 under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Health. The neonatal screening laboratories are equipped with high sensitivity techniques, including the latest scientific findings in this field, To diagnose 22 different metabolic and endocrine disorders.
The neonatal screening program provides early diagnosis of cases and thus gives the child appropriate treatment to prevent the occurrence of symptoms or mental disabilities. The screening also contributes to reducing the incidence of sudden death of newborns. The labs are operated by highly qualified technicians under the supervision of biochemists. All the births of government and private hospitals were covered by screening program which also include four offices in  (Farwaniya, Jahra, Adan, maternity hospitals ),
which were established in cooperation with the children's departments in hospitals.
 

 

Molecular Lab

- This laboratory studies many mutations that affect some genes (genetic factors) by studying the DNA to know some mutations of many genetic diseases.
- Supervised by a team of highly trained professionals.
- Many researches have been published in scientific and local journals through this laboratory.

 

Cytogenetic Lab

-This laboratory is one of the oldest genetic laboratories that was opened with the opening of the center in 1979. This laboratory studies the chromosomes to diagnose some genetic diseases caused by defects in the number or composition of chromosomes.- This unit is supervised by highly qualified specialists who have a PhD degree, as well as a team of specialized laboratory technicians.- This unit analyze more than 150 samples monthly using the modern Cytoscan System technology.- It should be noted here that this unit has published about 150 research in the scientific journals ,also this lab shared in training some technicians from the Gulf States and from other laboratories in the State of Kuwait..

 

FISH Lab

This laboratory is an active laboratory in the center  using molecular cytogenetic technique that uses fluorescent probes that bind to only those parts of a nucleic acid sequence with a high degree of sequence complementarity. This  lab important for some patients with certain diseases resulting from a very simple change chromosomes as they can get the diagnosis  and confirmed only through tests of this laboratory.

- This unit is supervised by a Kuwaiti who holds a doctorate degree in genetic analysis with the help of a team of technicians who have a bachelor's degree in science and a master's degree. The unit has published many researches published in scientific journals.

- The unit trained some technicians from various Gulf countries as well as from some laboratories in the State of Kuwait.

 

Next Generation Sequencing Lab 

The Advanced Genetic Analysis Laboratory (NGS) was opened at the Center for Genetic Diseases in February 2018. Where it
provides high-throughput methodology that enables rapid sequencing of the base pairs in DNA or RNA samples. Supporting a broad range of applications, including gene expression profiling, chromosome counting, detection of epigenetic changes, and molecular
analysis, NGS is driving discovery and enabling the future of personalized medicine. The laboratory provides the following different tests for cases:

1-            Neurology Panel

2-            Dysmorphia Dysplasia Panel

3-            Epilepsy Panel

4-            Inborn Error Metabolism Panel

5-            Deafness Panel

6-            Ophthalmic Panel

7-            CFTR Panel

8-            Cardiovascular Panel

9-            CardiacArrhythmia and Cardiomyopathy 

10-          Renal Panel 

11-          Autism Panel 

12-          Inherited Cancer Panel 

13-          Ovarian Cancer Panel 

14-          BRCA Plus Panel 

15-          Hematology Panel

16-          Noonan Panel 

17-          Mitochondrial panel 

18-          Whole Exome Sequencing

Also soon Pharmacogenomics will be available

Use of next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical laboratories has allowed an incredible progress in the genetic diagnostics of
several inherited disorders. This type of analysis was previously sent abroad, but thanks to thecooperation and efforts of laboratory technicians and technicians, the advanced genetic analysis laboratory was able to carry out this analysis in the State of Kuwait.

 

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

The Kuwait Medical Genetic Center offers a pre-implantation test to detect genetic diseases related to chromosomal disorders and other genetic diseases caused by a defect in the genetic system. This process is carried out in the Advanced Genetic Analysis lab in cooperation with the IVF Unit at the maternity hospital.

The examination is carried out by the latest molecular genetic lab NGS, which are 98% accurate in detecting pathogenic gene mutations in embryos before implantation in the mother's uterus, and ensure the implantation of healthy embryos. The examination of the fetus usually begins on the third or fifth day of the fertilization of the egg by extracting a cell or several cells out of (6-10) cells to choose the healthy embryo.

The Kuwait Medical Genetic Center is the only center in the Middle East use NGS technology to test embryos, which is used to
identify genetic defects.