CYTOGENETICS

The Cytogenetics Laboratory is under the professional directorship of Drs. Barry Barnoski and Bruce Boman. Residency training during the one-month rotation in the Cytogenetics Laboratory consists of direct participation in the analysis and interpretation of cytogenetic and FISH studies. Competencies for resident training are detailed in the Resident Manual and include cytogenetic analysis of amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, peripheral blood, solid tissue biopsies, and bone marrow samples. Additional molecular biology studies include in-site hybridization and FISH on appropriate clinical material.

Pathology residents participate in the review of all abnormal cases and are given the opportunity to write descriptive reports in selected cases. Each resident on a personal blood sample performs the technical aspects of all culturing and karyotype evaluation. The rotation acquaints the resident with the principles of interpretation of cytogenetics studies such as the differential diagnosis of pseudo-mosaicism and true mosaicism in prenatal studies and clonal aberrations of a variety of neoplasms. The importance of quality control is stressed and familiarity with the quality assurance program of the laboratory is required. Opportunities for further elective research projects in the Cytogenetics laboratory are available following successful completion of the Cytogenetics rotation.