Scientific background:

Summary: The gene encodes a protein essential to the cytoskeleton. Mutations cause May-Hegglin anomaly and Fechtner, Sebastian, Epstein, and Alport-like syndromes, and deafness without any further symptoms (DFNA17).

Methodology:

	clinical test	Method		Genomic sequencing of the entire coding region
		Turn-around time		17 working days
		Effort		large
		Specimen		DNA
		Quality assessment		Internal quality control only
	All known and new missense, nonsense and splice mutations can be detected.
	clinical test	Method		Carrier testing
		Turn-around time		6 working days
		Effort		little
		Specimen		DNA
		Quality assessment		Internal quality control only
	The test is only specific about the mutation already known in this kindred.
	research test	Method		Gene dosage measurements
		Turn-around time		17 working days
		Effort		large
		Specimen		DNA
		Quality assessment		Internal quality control only
	Of the gene rearrangements, this method is useful to detect large deletions or duplications.

Literature: 

Heath KE et al. (2001) Nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA mutations define a spectrum of autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenias: May-Hegglin anomaly and Fechtner, Sebastian, Epstein, and Alport-like syndromes.
Balduini CL et al. (2002) Inherited thrombocytopenias: from genes to therapy.
Basile C et al. () Hereditary nephritis with macrothrombocytopenia: phenotypic variety and the genotypic defect.
Lalwani AK et al. (2000) Human nonsyndromic hereditary deafness DFNA17 is due to a mutation in nonmuscle myosin MYH9.