A FAMILY tested by doctors for "spelling errors" in their genes have praised the "marvellous" service offered in Oxford to check for cardiac conditions.

The father and children of rugby player Jason Laman, who died suddenly aged 42 in 2013 after collapsing while playing rugby for Wheatley RFC, each took a blood test at a specialist NHS centre in Oxford to find out if they too could be at risk.

The Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratory at the Churchill Hospital in Headington is celebrating after screening its 10,000th person, 13 years after first opening its doors.

Jason's father Clive Laman and son Aaron were both found at the centre to have the same gene change, which causes a type of dilated cardiomyopathy.

The 72-year-old said: "Eighteen years ago I struggled with leukaemia and later started getting breathless. They thought the heart muscles were damaged by chemotherapy.

"Then we lost Jason three years ago and the post-mortem found this spelling mistake in the genes. I was worried about my grandchildren."

Seven members of the family were tested at the unit, with Clive later fitted with a pacemaker and implantable defibrillator and given medication.

Aaron, 24, undergoes regular checks so he can be offered treatment if symptoms develop.

In cardiomyopathy, the walls of the heart chambers have become stretched, thickened or stiff while arrhythmia results in heart rhythm problems such as those suffered by Jason, a self-employed builder and father of three.

Clive added: "The people at the hospital and my own GP in Wheatley have been wonderful. It's a marvellous idea that helps prolong life.

"It would be marvellous if everybody could have this done and then these things could be nipped in the bud at the start."

Scientists at the laboratory use state-of-the-art technology to examine more than 70 genes shown to cause inherited heart disease, all from a small blood sample.

Those diagnosed with a gene change are assessed by the cardiology team.

Clinical services are by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and see about 400 new people each year, with about two thirds referred for genetic testing.

The centre in Oxford is the largest NHS facility in the UK to identify genetic causes of heart disease and was the first of its type to receive accreditation.

Much of the research that led to the development of the service came from the British Heart Foundation.

Medical director Peter Weisberg said: "This is a superb example of how world class research funded by public donations can lead to a life-saving clinical service.

"Testing for these genes has already helped to avoid thousands of sudden cardiac deaths in this country."