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Department of Molecular Biology – City Children’s Hospital

Along with the development of modern medicine, the term “Personalized Medicine” has been increasingly used due to the acknowledgment of the molecular genetics’ important role in explaining and diagnosing diseases. Molecular genetic assays  provide lots of benefits for patients, allowing for more precise diagnosis, risk stratification, and identifying more effective treatment strategy.

The latest advances and applications of molecular genetics have motivated us in establishing the Department of Molecular Biology. Our department assists other clinical departments in applying break-through genetic & biomedical technologies to diagnose and guide treatment of diseases. Our department will focus on the molecular aspects of inherited diseases, hematology, and oncology.

A typical molecular diagnostic workflow consists of 5 main steps: sample collection, sample processing, technical procedure, data analysis, and result. Each step will be processed by different methods depending on the test.

  • Sample collection: The first important step of the genetic test starts with the suitable choice of sample. (peripheral blood for inherited disease, tissue sample for a solid tumor, etc.)
    KingFisher Flex Purifying
    KingFisher Flex Purifying
  • Sample processing: After being collected, the sample will be processed immediately to assure the quality of the following steps. We have here the KingFisher Flex system which can automatically extract up to 96 DNA or RNA samples in only an hour.
    ABI 3500
    ABI 3500
  • Technical procedure: Our genetic tests varies from karyotyping, RT-PCR analysis of fusion gene in acute leukemia to PCR-based tests for inherited diseases. Besides, we have other novel systems widely used for genotyping and sequencing.
  • ABI 3500: This machine is mostly used for Sanger sequencing and MLPA. Sanger’s method was known as the gold standard among sequencing techniques, and MLPA is a method which provides a quick examination of a specific disease by using the kit from MCR-Holland company.
  • MiniSeq: Genetic researches nowadays apply Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to screen a huge amount of genomic mutations through custom gene panels. Unlike Sanger’s, since NGS can run multiple samples at once, the data output is significantly higher, and the cost is much cheaper.
    MiniSeq System
    MiniSeq System
  • iScan:  A high-throughput and multiplex genotyping system that can rapidly identify already known mutations or structural variations with a pre-designed chip. This chip is designed with an array of the whole genome, targeted genome, exome analysis or other specific applications.
    iScan System
    iScan System
  • Data analysis: Each system will use special tools to call out the variants.
  • Result: Staff will check the pathogenesis of each mutation before the official result being sent.

With our well-trained technicians and all the available equipments, we can run assays for congenital diseases, hematological disorders, and cancer genetics. We work closely with other departments to combine genetic and clinical data in the treatment plans for patients. We are also currently participating in collaborative research projects with other hospitals, universities, and institutions in Vietnam and around the world.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Department of Molecular Biology – City Chilren’s Hospital
: (+84) 282253 6688 (Internal line: 8149)
: shpt@bvndtp.org.vn