In cytogenetic evaluations, why is monitoring the reagent's expiration dates important?

Monitoring the expiration dates of reagents is crucial because it directly impacts the effectiveness of the reagents used in cytogenetic evaluations. Over time, reagents can degrade or change chemically, which may lead to reduced performance or inconsistent results in tests. For instance, enzymes may lose their activity, fluorescent dyes might degrade, and antibodies may become less effective, all of which can compromise the accuracy and reliability of cytogenetic analyses. Ensuring that reagents are used within their designated shelf life helps maintain the validity of the test results and supports sound clinical decision-making based on those results.