A Medical Device Daily

iKaryos Diagnostics (Omaha, Nebraska) a provider of molecular cancer testing, reported the availability of a genome-based, personalized cancer test which uses single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to digitally assess the DNA of cancer cells.

iKaryos Diagnostics said that it is the first company world-wide to offer SNP array Virtual Karyotype services for cancer.

SNP array Virtual Karyotypes provide both copy number and loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) information at an unprecedented resolution across the genome. SNP array virtual karyotypes can also readily detect a newly appreciated genetic lesion, called copy neutral LOH, which is now known to be quite common in human tumors. No other clinically available methodology can provide this information.

SNP array Virtual Karyotyping can be performed on fresh or paraffin-embedded tumors. A detailed diagnostic report is prepared by a board-certified molecular pathologist and includes a description of the genetic alterations identified in the tumor, an image of the virtual karyotype, and clinical-pathologic correlation.

The company was formed earlier this year.