Methods for detecting in a single
assay any one of multiple chromosomal disorders that result from
aneuploidy or certain mutations, particularly microdeletions, and kits for use therein. A
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is carried out to amplify eukaryotic
genomic DNA using a plurality of primer
oligonucleotide pairs wherein one primer of each pair has a detectable
label attached 5′ thereto. A plurality of the primer pairs are targeted to
DNA segments of different chromosomes of interest which are indicative of potential chromosomal disorders, and one pair is targeted for a control
gene. The amplified PCR products are purified, and single-stranded
DNA having the detectable labels is obtained therefrom and hybridized with spots on a
microarray that each contain
DNA oligonucleotide probes having
nucleotide sequences complementary to a
nucleotide sequence of one strand of each segment. The
microarray is imaged for presence of labels on its respective spots, and the absence or presence of chromosomal disorders as indicated by one or more of the targeted DNA segments of interest is diagnosed by first comparing the imaging results to the imaging of spots specific to the control
gene and then to results obtained from imaging normal DNA.