{
  "id": 3320117,
  "title": "What’s missing in T.N. for intersex babies? Genetic tests at government hospitals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/whats-missing-in-t-n-for-intersex-babies-genetic-tests-at-government-3320117",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-25T17:56:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/whats-missing-in-tn-for-intersex-babies-genetic-tests-at-government-hospitals/article71374543.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu Health",
        "title": "What’s missing in T.N. for intersex babies? Genetic tests at government hospitals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/whats-missing-in-t-n-for-intersex-babies-genetic-tests-at-government",
        "published": "2026-08-25T17:56:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}