27/07/2012
Division of Clinical Genetics and Molecular Medicine
For more than 30 years, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine/University Specialty Clinics has held a notable distinction: housing one of only three regional genetics centers in South Carolina. The Division of Clinical Genetics and Molecular Medicine offers a full range of genetic services throughout the Midlands region and beyond. We serve obstetrical patients, cancer patients, and adult patients with both genetic counseling services and clinical laboratory genetic testing and screening.
Genetic Counseling services are available to patients through physician referral. We provide a wide range of clinical and laboratory services to South Carolina physicians and their patients, including the following:
genetic counseling with complex pedigree analysis
multiple marker screening for neural tube defects and chromosome abnormalities
prenatal diagnosis from amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
genetic counseling for prenatal ultrasound abnormalities
cytogenetic testing for infertility
cytogenetic testing and FISH analyses for oncology diagnosis and management
risk assessment, family history, and facilitated decision-making
cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling
family history, risk assessment, and genetic counseling for adult-onset conditions
genetics education to practicing professionals, health care students, and public groups.
Our experienced Genetic Counselors at the University Specialty Clinics are available to ensure that you receive personalized confidential consultation about prenatal risks, cancer family history, or specific adult genetic conditions.
Genetics Laboratory capabilities range from screening tests for possible prenatal conditions to advanced cytogenetic analysis and diagnosis. Cancer cytogenetic analyses are available to assist physicians and oncologists in patient diagnosis and management. Samples such as blood, tissue, and amniotic fluid can be analyzed within the laboratory or referred to a national specialty lab, depending on the nature of the genetic analysis. The Genetics Laboratory is the only CLIA-certified clinical laboratory in the School of Medicine. All samples are processed by Cytogenetics Specialists certified through the National Credentialing Agency (NCA). We work closely with the two other regional genetics centers in South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina and Greenwood Genetics Center, to make available the most current genetic testing to serve our physicians and our patients.
For information about specific Genetic Laboratory services
The Division of Clinical Genetics and Molecular Medicine partners with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and with physicians throughout the Midlands and beyond, to provide comprehensive prenatal genetic services and outpatient care of women with high-risk pregnancies.
In cancer genetics, we are an integral part of the nationally accredited South Carolina Breast Cancer Center, and we partner with medical oncologists at South Carolina Oncology Associates in Columbia and Carolina Health Care in Florence, SC, to provide community outreach counseling for patients and families with cancer risk.
We also address adults with genetic conditions, offering genetic counseling and testing by referral to nationally recognized laboratories specializing in DNA analysis, mutation testing, and other specialized molecular medicine analysis.
As genetics continues to expand into new fields and new genetic information becomes available, you can trust our team of compassionate, experienced healthcare professionals to share our knowledge with you, whether physician or patient. We aim to improve the health of the residents of South Carolina through the integration of genetic information into everyday medicine. If you need the expertise of a genetic counselor or genetic laboratory services, please contact us. We look forward to working with you.
