Características del uso del cariotipo en el Centro de Diagnóstico y Estudios Biomédicos de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca, durante el período Enero 2002-Diciembre 2011

Abstract

Background: The karyotype in lymphocytes of peripheral blood is one of the more used cytogenetics techniques in the south of our country, being as is a simple and accessible procedure. This method consists in ordering the chromosomes observed in the microscope based on their features. Even though this is a simple technique in our country there aren’t guidelines with the specific indications to carry out the karyotype, contributing to an inadequate use. Objective: Determining the characteristics of the karyotype utilization in the Center of Diagnosis and Biomedical Studies of the Medical Sciences Faculty of the Cuenca University during the period January 2002 and December 2011. Methodology: The research was descriptive and retrospective. The data was obtained through a survey, after that a dataset was elaborated. The karyotypes only for teaching or observations with more than 3 missed data in the book of register were excluded. Results & conclusions: The overuse of karyotype was 11.80% which determined 732 days of work wasted with economic losses of 3 600 dollars during 10 years. Among the factors associated with overuse we found the specialty of the person who solicited the exam and the year of solicitude (p< 0.05).