Recent medical and scientific advances allow pre-implantation testing of embryos for inherited genetic abnormalities. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos to prevent certain diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child.
PGD begins with the normal process of in vitro fertilization that includes egg retrieval and fertilization in the CFI Lab. Over the next three days the embryo will divide into eight cells.
PGD involves the following steps:
- First, one or two cells are removed from the embryo.
- Second, the cells are evaluated to determine if a problematic gene is present in the embryo.
- Once the PGD procedure has been performed and embryos free of genetic problems have been identified, the embryo will be placed back in the uterus, and implantation attempted.
- Any additional embryos that are free of genetic problems may be frozen for later use while embryos with the problematic gene are destroyed.
PGD can also be used for the purpose of gender selection. However, it’s important to note, discarding embryos based only on gender considerations is an ethical concern for many people.
CFI works with a large genetics laboratory that has performed thousands of cases of PGD.
The genetics laboratory’s team of genetic counselors, molecular geneticists, physicians and administrative staff work closely with CFI’s doctors to help build healthy families..
Here’s an interesting video on the process:
For more information on Genetic Screening, please call CFI at 336.448.9100, or fill out our Request an Appointment form.