Novel method for the production of multiple colour chromosome paints for use in karyotyping by fluorescence in situ hybridisation

The development of 24-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) has led to significant advances in cytogenetic research and offers the potentia l for automated karyotypic analysis. However, these techniques are not in r outine research or clinical use because of limitations in methods of probe preparation. This article presents new probe construction protocols and str ategies for multiple-colour karyotyping by chromosome painting, which makes the technique more efficient and may lead to more widespread implementatio n. We used paints generated by our protocols to demonstrate the presence of a cryptic translocation t(13;11;22) in the paediatric sarcoma cell line RM S 1598. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.