Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Fish Sperm Assessment Using Software and Cooling Devices
Published on: July 28, 2018
Fully automated FISH examination of amniotic fluid cells
Jan Wauters1, Elvire Van Assche, Aristidis Antsaklis
1Department of Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. jan.wauters@ua.ac.be
Objective:
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis has become a valuable adjunct in cytogenetics, providing a rapid screen for common chromosome abnormalities that is particularly helpful in prenatal diagnosis. FISH analysis using standard microscopy is expensive and labor intensive, requiring both a high skill level and subjective signal interpretation. A reliable fully automated system for FISH analysis could improve laboratory efficiency and potentially reduce errors and costs.
Methods:
The efficacy of an automated system was compared to standard manual FISH analysis. Two sets of slides were generated from each of 152 amniotic fluid samples. Following hybridization with a standard panel of five chromosome FISH probes, one set of slides was evaluated using manual microscopy. The other set was evaluated using an automated microscopy system.
Results:
A diagnostic outcome was obtained for all 152 samples using manual microscopy and for 146 of 152 (96%) samples using automated microscopy. Three cases of aneuploidy were detected. For those samples for which a diagnostic outcome was determined by both manual and automated microscopy, 100% concordance was observed. All FISH analysis results were confirmed by karyotype.
Conclusion:
These data suggest that an automated microscopy system is capable of providing accurate and rapid enumeration of FISH signals in amniocytes.
