Determination of the Factor V Leiden Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in a Commercial Clinical Laboratory by Use of NanoChip Microelectronic Array Technology

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Abstract
Background: Methods for analysis of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) known as factor V Leiden (FVL) are described. The technique provides rapid, highly accurate detection of the point mutation that encodes for replacement of arginine-506 with glutamine. After formal assay qualification, 758 clinical samples that had previously been analyzed by the InvaderTM Monoplex Assay were tested as research samples in a commercial clinical laboratory. Methods: Primers specific for factor V (FV) were prepared, and PCR was performed. Samples were analyzed using the NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation with fluorescently labeled reporters for wild-type and SNP sequences. Results: Of the 635 samples classified by the Third WaveTM assay as FV wild type, 10 were identified as heterozygous FVL by the NanoChip technique. Similarly, of the 114 putative heterozygous samples, 4 were wild type, and of the 9 reported homozygous samples, 6 were homozygous, 2 were heterozygous, and 1 was FV wild type by the NanoChip assay. All 17 results that were discordant with the Third Wave analysis were confirmed by DNA sequencing to be correctly classified by the NanoChip technology. The Nanochip system was 100% accurate in characterizing wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous samples compared with accuracies of 99.2%, 90.2%, and 100% for the comparable Third Wave analysis. Conclusions: The NanoChip microelectronic chip array technology is an accurate and convenient method for FVL screening of research samples in a clinical laboratory environment.