PARENTS ENCOURAGED TO BRING CHILDREN TO DO GENETIC TESTS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- Parents are encouraged to bring their

children to be tested for more than 400 common genetic disorders conducted via a

micro-array based test introduced for the first time in Asia by Sengenics, a

Malaysian bionexus company.

Sengenics chief executive officer Syed Izzuddin Al’Shahab said the

test, which is in accordance to the United Kingdom''s National Health Service

(NHS) standards, could be carried out on children from as young as three months

old.

However, the test could only be conducted upon referral from

doctors, he told a press conference here today.

He said the test can detect more than 400 types of child disorders,

including learning disabilities, autism, copper deficiency, Down''s syndrome,

mental disorders and hereditary cancer.

Diseases related to metabolic syndromes, heart function, sexual disorders

such as infertility, can also be diagnosed.

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GENETIC-DISORDERS 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

Syed Izzudin said parents who wished to do the test for their children can

bring them to a doctor for a simple blood test to collect their DNA

(Deoxyribonucleic Acid) sample.

"And we will use (the sample) to do the genetic testing. From the test, we

can know whether they (the children) are normal or not," he said.

Asked abou the cost involved, he said in Malaysia it was from RM2,800 to a

RM7,500 for sample unlike in the UK and the United States where the range was

between US$6,000 and US$9,000 (RM18,000 and RM27,000).

He said he full diagnostic report could be obtained within four weeks.

Meanwhile, Co-Director of the National Genetics Reference Laboratory,

National Health Service (NHS) UK, Dr John Crolla, who was also present, said the

National Genetics

Reference Laboratory hoped that the new technology would be successfully

implemented in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

BHA KHY HA