Services provided at the Near East University Hospital Medical Genetics Department in the Genetics and Cancer Diagnosis and Research Centre:

1. Cytogenetics (chromosome analysis from various tissues)
2. Molecular Cytogenetics (in cases where cytogenetic methods are insufficient so a complete diagnosis of haematological cancer via chromosomal aberrations is required)
3. Molecular Genetic (Diagnosis of especially single gene disorder)
4. Molecular Biology Diagnosis (sensitive diagnosis of virus and bacteria via molecular methods)
5. And Preimplantation Genetics, comprising 5 laboratories in total.

Genetic counselling is one of the more prominent services provided by the Medical Genetics Department in the Genetics and Cancer Diagnosis and Research Centre.  Genetic counselling is a helpful service that informs persons and families with risks of hereditary or genetic diseases and guides them through potential treatment options.  Also, genetic counselling is a service which can inform patients and their families about the living conditions, potential treatments and where to get this assistance.

In which cases should you consult the Medical Genetics Department in the Genetics and Cancer Diagnosis and Research Centre?

• If the person was pre-diagnosed with a genetic or hereditary disease.
• To prevent a common disease in the family from manifesting in children
• To understand the severity of the risk the children are under when a person in the family has an unexplained congenital growth and/or development disorder
• In case of consanguineous marriage
• In case of repeating miscarriages or still births
• If the person or a close relative has the risk or has been diagnosed with Thalassaemia, cystic fibrosis or Mediterranean Fever
• If the prospective mother is over 35 years of age and the prospective father is over 40 years old.
• If the mother is exposed to any external factors that would hinder the development of the baby (drug use, x-ray, stress, gaining too much weight, high fever)
• If there is a family history of cancer

Diagnosis services:

1. Early Diagnosis (prenatal diagnosis) (prenatal genetic diagnosis before and other stages of pregnancy to determine whether the baby is healthy) (for diseases such as Down syndrome)
2. Prenatal blood tests chorionic villus biopsy (CVS); genetic tests done through sampling the placenta via small needles from the abdomen or the vagina to make a genetic diagnosis of the baby between weeks 11-14.
   Amniocentesis is an examination done by sampling the placenta from the mother’s abdomen to conduct genetic tests between weeks 15 - 18. The test results usually take 3-4 months to arrive.  The patients who need to take this test are as follows:
   • Prospective mothers over the age of 35
   • Mother and father being children of a someone with a previous chromosomal anomaly
   • Mother or father being chromosomal anomaly carriers
   • Mother and father having children with a previous chromosomal anomaly
   • The baby being at high risk of having a chromosomal anomaly.
3. Family cancer diagnosis, treatment and research (previous breast, ovarian, intestinal, lung cancers in the family)
4. Many diagnosis and monitoring tests for Haematological cancer (leukaemia) and other cancers