Patent ID: 8852865

Claim:
An automated method for detecting chromosomal abnormalities in a plurality of cells in a cervical sample, said method comprising: a) contacting a cervical sample comprising cells with a plurality of distinguishably labeled nucleic acid sequences capable of hybridizing to chromosomal regions of said cells, wherein said plurality of distinguishably labeled nucleic acid sequences consists of: i) a first nucleic acid sequence to a target nucleic acid sequence on chromosome 3q; ii) a second nucleic acid sequence to a target nucleic acid sequence on chromosome 5p; iii) a third nucleic acid sequence to a target nucleic acid sequence on chromosome 1q; b) hybridizing the plurality of distinguishably labeled nucleic acid sequences; c) detecting a hybridization signal of the first, second and third nucleic acid sequences, wherein the hybridization signal of said first, second and third nucleic acid sequences is indicative of chromosomal copy number for 3q, 5p and 1q; d) scoring the chromosomal copy number for chromosomes 3q, 5p, and 1q; and e) reporting whether the sample contains chromosomal abnormalities wherein an increase in chromosomal copy number is indicative of chromosomal abnormalities in the cells.