Preimplantation genetic testing
What is it?
Precision in embryo selection
Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is used to identify genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in embryos before they are implanted into the uterus. There are three types of PGT:
- PGT-A: Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies – identifies embryos with numerical chromosomal abnormalities (that are essentially female age-related)
- PGT-SR: Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangements – is used for cases where one of the patients is a carrier of a balanced rearrangement (like a translocation or an inversion).
- PGT-M: Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic diseases is used in cases one or both of the patients are at high risk of passing a single gene disorder. If embryos are not carriers of the diseases analysed by PGT-Mm they are also PGT-A tested.
What you’ll get
Technical expertise
Our skilled embryologists ensure precise, accurate and safe procedures, while our medical genetics specialists advise and oversee the process to ensure best practices are followed.
Best-in-class techniques
We use proper handling and the best biopsy techniques to protect the embryos’ viability, working together with the best genetics labs in the world.
Optimal selection
Skilled embryologists meticulously nurture your embryos to enhance the probability of identifying robust and suitable candidates for uterine transfer.
Treatment phases
In vitro fertilisation
Eggs are retrieved from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm, either from a partner or a sperm donor, in the laboratory, creating embryos. Please see our IVF treatment page for more information.
Embryo Development
Once the eggs have successfully fertilised, they develop into embryos. Our embryologists monitor the development of these embryos using time-lapse technology, specialised equipment like the EmbryoScope and artificial intelligence algorithms to assess their viability. These technologies allow for the continuous, non-invasive monitoring of embryos as they develop. This lets us assess the timing of cell division, the regularity of cell cleavage, and the presence of fragmentation (small fragments of cells) within embryos, among many other factors. We are then able to select the best blastocysts (day 5/6 embryos) for PGT testing, as these are more likely to result in chromosomally normal embryos.
Embryo biopsy
A small sample of cells is taken from each embryo for genetic testing. This is done on day 5 or 6 of embryo development. At this stage, the embryo consists of more than one hundred cells. Embryo biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that aims to cause minimal harm to the embryo. The selected cells are removed with micromanipulation techniques that involve laser technology. Embryos are subsequently vitrified.
Genetic Analysis
The genetic material taken during the biopsy is analysed to determine whether it carries any chromosomal abnormalities or specific genetic mutations.
Selection and Transfer
Based on the genetic analysis, only the embryos that are chromosomally normal or free of specific genetic mutations are selected for transfer into the woman’s uterus. The placement of the embryos is usually confirmed by ultrasound.
Pregnancy Test
After the embryo transfer you will need to wait for 10 to 14 days for a pregnancy test. We will test for pregnancy with a blood test at the clinic.
Embryo freezing
Any viable surplus embryos that are not used in the fresh treatment can remain frozen in our cryo-storage facilities. These can be used in a subsequent frozen embryo transfer cycle (for a second child or if the first attempt fails).
