Molecular Pathology & Cytogenetics

One of the first facilities of its kind in the country, the UCLA Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory has pioneered applications of diagnostic DNA-Based testing for a wide variety of genetic and neoplastic diseases, as well as DNA fingerprint analysis. Some tests on our menu, such as familial Mediterranean fever mutation detection, are offered uniquely in the region of the country. In addition to its clinical service role, the laboratory has been very active in basic and applied clinical research. Important innovations resulting from these activities have included the first documentation of HIV infection of the heart, development of a highly sensitive in situ PCR method for detection of cell-specific gene expression and micrometastatic tumor cells, population genetic studies of the allele frequencies of the clotting factor V-Leiden mutation and CCR-5 polymorphism of HIV resistance, and early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma in cytology specimens by sensitive PCR detection of K-ras oncogene mutations.

Tests and services offered in Molecular Pathology & Cytogenetics:
• One of the first facilities of its kind in the country, the UCLA Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory has pioneered applications of diagnostic DNA-Based testing for a wide variety of genetic and neoplastic diseases, as well as DNA fingerprint analysis. Some tests on our menu, such as familial Mediterranean fever mutation detection, are offered uniquely in the region of the country. In addition to its clinical service role, the laboratory has been very active in basic and applied clinical research. Important innovations resulting from these activities have included the first documentation of HIV infection of the heart, development of a highly sensitive in situ PCR method for detection of cell-specific gene expression and micrometastatic tumor cells, population genetic studies of the allele frequencies of the clotting factor V-Leiden mutation and CCR-5 polymorphism of HIV resistance, and early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma in cytology specimens by sensitive PCR detection of K-ras oncogene mutations.
• Detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors by standard and molecular cytogenetics on fresh and archival tissue
• Identification of mutations in cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, familial breast/ovarian cancer (BRCA1/2 genes), hereditary thrombophilias, Huntington disease and other genetic disorders
• Prenatal sex determination and Rh typing, and determination of paternity, twin zygosity and surgical specimen identity by DNA fingerprinting