Financial Times

Asiri launches advanced Genetics lab
The Asiri Group of Hospitals, Sri Lanka’s premier medical services provider, last week announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s most advanced genetics laboratory at Asiri Surgical Hospital, its high-tech flagship facility.

The Asiri Surgical Hospital thus becomes the first ever private hospital to start a genetics diagnostic laboratory in Sri Lanka, the hospital firm said.
The project is headed by Dr. Vajira H W Dissanayake (Senior Lecturer and Clinical Geneticist).

The laboratory is capable of carrying out all types of genetic testing, including cytogenetic testing (studies of chromosomal number and structure), molecular genetic testing (studies of the genes/DNA) and molecular cytogenetic testing (a combination of both cytogenetics and molecular genetics commonly known as Fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH]), making it the most comprehensive genetic diagnostic laboratory in the country. Currently the lab has started cytogenetic testing. It is expected to start molecular genetic testing in the near future.

Commenting on this facility now being available in Sri Lanka, Dr. Vajira H W Dissanayake said, “Genetic diagnosis is not only useful in diagnosing and treating rare genetic disorders like down syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, etc., but is increasingly being used for the diagnosis of relatively common disorders such as cancer and diabetes.

The ability to treat a patient with tailor-made treatment is another advantage of genetic testing as it helps to identify the genetic make up of an individual correctly. For example if you take Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) there are about six varieties which can be identified by genetic testing. Clinical diagnosis will not enable to differentiate these varieties. Genetic testing therefore, enables more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment”.

Genetics technology has only in the last decade, made rapid advancements with genetic discoveries being widely used in clinical practice. Genetic diagnosis is extremely accurate and specific in the diagnosis of many types of disorders.

A key advantage of genetic testing over other forms of testing is that an individual patient does not have to wait till they get the symptoms of the disease to test for it.

If a person is aware that he/she is at risk of having a disease such as diabetes, cancer or a rare neurological disorder due to family history, genetic testing can predict whether he/she is likely to get the disease in the future.

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