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Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
The novel technique of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, allows for the diagnosis of certain conditions in the embryo before implantation. The technique is achieved by performing IVF and growing embryos in the laboratory for three days to the eight cell stage. At this point, a small opening is made in the zona pellucida (the human eggshell), and one of the cells of the embryo ("a blastomere") is gently removed with a suction pipet. The cell that is thus removed is fixed to a slide and sent for genetic analysis to a central lab. At present, it is possible to test for certain common chromosomal abnormalities (such as chromosomes 13, 18, 21) as well as gender determination (chromosome X or Y). Other genetic tests for heritable genetic diseases and gender selection are also available.
It takes approximately 24 - 48 hours to achieve the diagnostic testing. During this time, the embryo is maintained in culture. Therefore, it is important that the program has the experience and capability of maintaining embryos in culture for an extended period of time. The embryo transfer procedure requires additional care since the embryo shell (zona pellucida) has been opened for the removal of the blastomere. Our program takes pride in excellence in all of these special procedures.
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