Genetic Testing for Newborns
The fastest and most comprehensive genetic testing available for newborns, infants and children less than 24 months old in intensive care. CentoICU – Genetic Testing When Every Moment Counts. Up to one-third of all babies and children admitted to the ICU have a genetic disease. For many patients, early identification can make a difference in their immediate and long-term health.
CentoICU enables clinicians to use a single test to provide an accurate assessment for newborn-associated genetic diseases using dried blood spots (DBS). CentoICU is a comprehensive Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel that includes more than 800 genes. It is addresses multiple genetic conditions with overlapping phenotypes and has immediate implications for treatment.
Designed for quick and early diagnosis of critically ill newborns and children under 24 months in intensive care units (ICUs), we can deliver results in less than 10 business days.
WHY CHOOSE CENTOICU?
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Minimal sample requirement (just 0.5 ml blood, 1 µg DNA or 1 filter card)
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Screening of more than 850 genes associated with over 100 conditions
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Short turnaround times – ten business days is possible
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World-class medical reports interpreted by expert human geneticists
Severe symptoms or illness in newborns and young children can be due to rare changes in the child’s genetic makeup which occur before they are born. These changes can produce complex, often life-threatening conditions affecting one or more regions of the body, such as skin, heart, lungs, muscle, bones, blood system or the body’s metabolism. The severity and outcome for the child can vary dramatically.
Up to one-third of all babies and children admitted to an intensive care unit present with a genetic disease1. For many of them, early identification can make a big difference to their immediate and long-term health. Undiagnosed rare genetic disorders can be life-threatening. A fast and precise diagnosis of an underlying genetic condition can be vital. Genetic testing early on can provide a much needed diagnosis, help to gauge the severity of a disease, identify the best ways to proceed with the child’s immediate and long-term treatment, and establish the risk and nature of any further health issues.
Where a critical or rare genetic disorder is a probable cause, genetic testing can be performed on a small blood sample from the child. The best technology and medical expertise are used to analyze the child’s DNA in over 800 genes associated with over 100 conditions in just one test. It is also possible to test for significant genetic changes not associated with known diseases. The results are carefully interpreted and reported to your doctor – helping to provide your child with a clear diagnosis.
CentoICU is designed to analyze more than 800 genes associated with over 100 conditions. The list of included genes was developed by our expert medical team based on several selection criteria, i.e.:
- Early onset
- Severe disease
- ICU related symptomatology
- Diseases/syndromes of differential diagnostic value
CentoICU is recommended for newborns and children under 24 months admitted to the ICU who present with unclear symptoms that may indicate a genetic condition. For example:
- Bleeding dyathesis
- Blood abnormalities (anemia)
- Bone fragility
- Failure to thrive
- Heart abnormality/arrhythmia
- Hepatospenomegaly
- Hypotonia
- Ichthyosis/epidermolysis bullosa
- Metabolic abnormalities*
- Microcephaly
- Neutropenia
- Abnormal newborn screening results**
- Respiratory failure
- Skeletal abnormalities/craniosynostosis
- Skin fragility
- Unclear seizures
*Abnormal acylcarnitine profile, amino acidemia/urea, hyperbilirubinemia, hyper-/hypoinsulinism, persistent hypoglycemia, organic acidemia/urea
**CentoICU includes genes that cover all ACMG core panel phenotypes for newborn screening except hearing loss