All content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals only. By acknowledging this message and accessing the information on this website you are confirming that you are a Healthcare Professional. If you are a patient or carer, please visit the MPN Advocates Network.

The MPN Hub uses cookies on this website. They help us give you the best online experience. By continuing to use our website without changing your cookie settings, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Policy

Introducing

Now you can personalise
your MPN Hub experience!

Bookmark content to read later

Select your specific areas of interest

View content recommended for you

Find out more
  TRANSLATE

The MPN Hub website uses a third-party service provided by Google that dynamically translates web content. Translations are machine generated, so may not be an exact or complete translation, and the MPN Hub cannot guarantee the accuracy of translated content. The MPN Hub and its employees will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages (even if foreseeable) resulting from use of the Google Translate feature. For further support with Google Translate, visit Google Translate Help.

Steering CommitteeAbout UsNewsletterContact
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.
2023-03-24T19:26:22.000Z

Common genomic diagnostic tests

Mar 24, 2023
Share:

Bookmark this article

Genetic testing has become an integral part of cancer diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment strategy.1 While whole exome and whole genome sequencing are becoming increasingly accessible, classic genetic tests, such as Sanger sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), remain the standard approach for many clinical practices due to their high sensitivity, relatively low costs, and wide availability.1

At present, no single test is able to detect the wide range of potential genetic abnormalities that may be inherited or arise de novo in a patient; therefore, a multiform approach is adopted to generate an accurate and reliable genetic readout.1

In view of this, the MPN Hub is proud to present a visual summary of the genomic diagnostic techniques commonly used in clinical practice. We outline the use of each technique, as well as their associated advantages and disadvantages.


  1. Katsanis SH, Katsanis N. Molecular genetic testing and the future of clinical genomics. Nat Rev Genet. 2013;14(6):415-426. DOI: 10.1038/nrg3493
  2. Testing.com. Genetic testing techniques. https://www.testing.com/genetic-testing-techniques/. Accessed Oct 5, 2022. 
  3. Liu HY, Hopping GC, Vaidyanathan U, et al. Polymerase chain reaction and its application in the diagnosis of infectious keratitis. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2019;8(3):152-155.
  4. Genetic Alliance; The New England Public Health Genetics Education Collaborative. Understanding genetics: A New England guide for patients and health professionals. Genetic Alliance Monographs and Guides; 2007.
  5. Alkan C, Sajjadian S, Eichler EE, et al. Limitations of next-generation genome sequence assembly. Nat Methods. 2011;8(1):61-65. DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1527
  6. Behjati S, Tarpey PS. What is next generation sequencing? Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2013;98:236-238. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2013-304340
  7. Ikbal Atli E, Gurkan H, Onur Kirkizlar H, et al. Pros and cons for fluorescent in situ hybridization, karyotyping and next generation sequencing for diagnosis and follow-up of multiple myeloma. Balkan J Med Genet. 2021;23(2):59-64. DOI: 10.2478/bjmg-2020-0020
  8. Bridge JA. Advantages and limitations of cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic, and molecular diagnostic testing in mesenchymal neoplasms. J Orthop Sci. 2008;13(3):273-282. DOI: 10.1007/s00776-007-1215-1
  9. Russo G, Zegar C, Giordano A. Advantages and limitations of microarray technology in human cancer. Oncogene. 2003;22(42):6497-6507. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1206865
  10. EMBL-EBI. Microarrays. https://www.ebi.ac.uk/training/online/courses/functional-genomics-ii-common-technologies-and-data-analysis-methods/microarrays. Accessed Mar 21, 2023.
  11. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Introduction to gene expression profiling. https://www.thermofisher.com/uk/en/home/life-science/pcr/real-time-pcr/real-time-pcr-learning-center/gene-expression-analysis-real-time-pcr-information/introduction-gene-expression-profiling.html. Accessed Mar 21, 2023.
  12. Jovic D, Liang X, Zeng H, et al. Single-cell RNA sequencing technologies and applications: A brief overview. Clin Transl Med. 2022;12(3):e694. DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.694

Newsletter

Subscribe to get the best content related to MPN delivered to your inbox