What’s missing in T.N. for intersex babies? Genetic tests at government hospitals
Karyotyping and other genetic tests that need to be performed on children with intersex tests are not available at most government hospitals in T.N., forcing families to rely on expensive private labs. This needs to change to ensure better care for these babies, say experts
Nearly seven years after Tamil Nadu banned sex-reassignment surgeries on intersex infants and children, a significant gap remains in the state's ability to properly diagnose and manage intersex variations. While the government has taken steps to restrict invasive procedures, the infrastructure for genetic testing at public hospitals is severely lacking.
Doctors and activists argue that better genetic testing facilities, particularly karyotyping and next-generation sequencing (NGS), are essential for accurate diagnosis and management of intersex conditions. Karyotyping, which examines chromosome structure, is crucial for confirming sex types and guiding treatment decisions. However, most government hospitals in Tamil Nadu outsource this basic test to private labs, leading to costly delays.
Experts emphasize that investing in government genetic testing infrastructure, including human resources like clinical geneticists, would improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary surgeries, and support research and counseling for affected families.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
