On The Spot e-News
Volume 3 Issue 3 | March 2008
In this issue:
Signature Introduces New Oligonucleotide Microarray
Signature announces the release of its newest microarray, the oligonucleotide-based SignatureChip Oligo Solution™ (SignatureChipOS™).
Designed, developed and validated by cytogeneticists for the detection of chromosome abnormalities in individuals with mental retardation/developmental delay and congenital anomalies, the SignatureChipOS covers more conditions at higher density than any other microarray available.
The 105,000 oligonucleotides on the SignatureChipOS cover over 150 syndromes, the pericentromeric regions, subtelomeres and genes in important developmental pathways. The SignatureChipOS has one probe every 10 kb in regions of interest and an average probe spacing of one probe every 35 kb throughout the rest of the genome, for an average of 50 oligos per clinical locus—a five-fold increase over any other clinical oligo microarray.
"Because the patient is our first priority, we’ve designed the SignatureChipOS to provide the most clinically useful coverage possible in a microarray," said Dr. Bassem A. Bejjani, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Signature. "We’ve rigorously selected probes to maximize coverage of clinically relevant regions of the genome and minimize results of unclear clinical significance. We can detect clinically relevant chromosome abnormalities in over 21% of individuals with unexplained mental retardation, which is a six-fold increase over conventional testing."
Because the SignatureChipOS covers the same regions as the SignatureChipWG™ BAC array, which was constructed with validated and verified FISH probes, almost every abnormality detected by the SignatureChipOS can be visualized by FISH. FISH visualization provides information about the nature of the chromosome abnormality and is essential for accurate diagnosis and determination of recurrence risks. The SignatureChipOS is the only oligo array available that is backed by FISH, offering you and your patients unparalleled information that you can use for diagnosis and accurate genetic counseling.
View more information about the SignatureChipOS.
Visit Signature at ACMG Annual Meeting
Researchers from Signature Genomic Laboratories will be giving presentations at the American College of Medical Genetics Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona Mar. 12-16. Attend a platform presentation, exhibitor theater or poster presentation to meet members of the Signature team and learn more about the power of Signature microarrays.
Friday, March 14
- Platform presentation: The impact of genotype-first diagnosis on clinical management and genetic counseling.9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., 106 ABC – Phoenix Convention Center (Abstract #40)
- Exhibitor theater: Oligo and BAC Arrays in Diagnostics.11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Exhibitor Theater #1.
Saturday, March 15
- Poster presentation: Microdeletions of 16q11.2q12.2 encompassing SALL1 uncovered by array CGH result in a Townes-Brocks-like phenotype. 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Exhibition Hall 1 (Abstract #130).
- Exhibitor theater: Automated Laboratory Solutions for Performing High-volume Array CGH. 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m., Exhibitor Theater #1.
Signature Introduces Patient Advocacy Program
Signature has introduced a Patient Advocacy Program to assist patients and their families with obtaining insurance coverage for microarray analysis. Through the program, Signature’s Patient Advocacy Team will communicate with the patient’s insurance carrier on the patient’s behalf to determine the benefits available for clinical laboratory testing. If the insurance carrier refuses to pay for all or part of the charge, the Patient Advocacy Team will work with the patient to submit an appeal or develop an alternate payment plan.
"We want to ensure that patients have the ability to order a test from Signature" said Catherine D. Kashork, Director of Operations at Signature. "The Patient Advocacy Program removes one more barrier to patients getting the diagnosis they need."
Visit our billing page for more information about patient insurance billing.