Fertility Specialists of Texas

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A)

Gain peace of mind with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or PGT-A

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or PGT-A, was once preimplantation genetic screening or PGS. This process takes IVF embryos at the blastocyst stage and performs a cell biopsy on day 5 or 6 of development. We send these cells to a genetics laboratory to determine the chromosomal status of each embryo. The lab screens the embryos for aneuploidy (missing or additional numbers of chromosomes). This is a leading cause of miscarriage and implantation failure (failure of the embryo to implant into the uterus).

Assisted hatching as part of PGT-A

Assisted hatching is a laboratory procedure for the outer shell of IVF embryos on day 3 development. We use it for those embryos that will eventually undergo PGT-A as blastocysts on Days 5 and 6.

During the procedure, embryologists make a small opening in the outer shell of the embryo (zona pellucida). The goal is to assist the embryo in breaking out of this shell to facilitate the biopsy procedure for PGT-A.

Screening for chromosome abnormalities

The lab screens all 23 pairs of chromosomes, including the sex chromosomes, for abnormalities. Doing so helps increase the chance to have a chromosomally healthy child. It can tell us if the correct number of chromosomes are present or if an abnormal number of chromosomes are present.

In addition, our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility center offers chromosome screening for couples who have frozen embryos from past cycles that need testing. Through this process, available at only a few IVF programs in the country, frozen embryos can be thawed and tested. We can determine if they are euploid (genetically healthy) male or female embryos, before being transferred back into the woman.

The laboratory we use for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy utilizes the most sophisticated and scientifically validated Next Generation Sequencing technology for determining the chromosome complement in a single cell. Contact us to learn more.

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