Fluorescent insitu Hybridisation (FISH) is a combination of both cytogenetics and molecular biology and hence can be done on both interphase cells and chromosomes.
FISH help to:
- Detect microdeletions beyond resolution of routine cytogenetics
- Identify extra material of unknown origin.
- Determine a simple deletion or a subtle or complex rearrangement.
- Detect specific rearrangements in certain cancers
A spectral karyotyping image showing fluorescent labelling on all the 23 pairs of chromosomes
A metaphase FISH showing signals on specific chromosome regions (chromosome 13)
An interphase FISH showing the exchange of chromosomal material (ABL1/BCR translocation FISH
An interphase FISH showing an extra chromosome (Down syndrome)