Genetic Testing Options

Along with extra genetic testing options for your donor, genetic screening can also be done pre-transfer on your embryos themselves.

Pre-transfer

PGS / NGS / PGT-A 21

This screening is performed on embryos day 3-5 to identify embryos affected by chromosomal abnormalities that will affect an embryo by chance.

It covers extensive genetic anomalies above and beyond other methods. Most intended parents don’t opt for this unless they have reason for concern in their own genetics but this is the most comprehensive genetic testing available. Being the most up-to-date method of genetic screening, NGS is based on the determination of DNA sequencing. It is a sensitive way of screening that allows experts to detect mosaicism. Mosaicism means the presence of cells with diverse sets of chromosomes. If a particular embryo has this issue, it may cause a miscarriage or the birth of a child with pathology. This helps to detect mosaicism at the pre-implantation stage. It allows specialists to choose only genetically- healthy embryos for a further transfer and increases the level of successful gestation in general.

Results Return: 2 – 3 weeks

PGD / PGT-M 5

This screening is performed on embryos day 3-5 to help prevent certain diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child from the parent. It is 5 chromosome testing for Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13).

Results Return: 1-3 weeks

During Pregnancy

NIPS / NIPT

In addition to the standard pregnancy screenings, NIPT screening is an additional, non-invasive test performed at approx. 11 – 12 weeks of pregnancy.

How accurate is the NIPT Prenatal Test?

NIPT DNA-based technology correctly identifies Down syndrome in more than 99% of cases. By comparison, traditional blood tests can miss as many as 15% of Down syndrome cases in pregnant women. NIPT is also much less likely than traditional tests to give a false-positive result, meaning there is much less chance that follow- up invasive testing, such as amniocentesis would be required.

How does the NIPT test work?

When your surrogate partner is pregnant, her blood contains fragments of your developing baby’s DNA. NIPT is a new type of test that analyzes DNA in a sample of her blood to predict the risk of Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and the genetic conditions Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), and Sex chromosome aneuploidy.

How is the NIPT test different from other blood tests for Down syndrome?

NIPT delivers clear answers as early as the first trimester with a single blood draw. Other commonly used tests for Down syndrome are performed later in pregnancy and require multiple office visits. Traditional 1st trimester serum screening tests are associated with a false-positive rate as high as 5%. NIPT uses a unique method of targeted DNA analysis that, combined with extensive quality controls, achieves over 99% accuracy and a false-positive rate less than 0.1%.

Results Return: 2 – 4 weeks

You’ve been waiting long enough

Are you ready for the lifetime gift of parenthood? To be a patient and loving teacher, leader and protector? And to also…change diapers, wake up at odd hours, nurse stomach flus and experience your first break-up all over again through your teenager?

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