CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) is one of the first centers in the U.S., to offer a new and more advanced method of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), a technique that can detect and eliminate abnormalities and genetic disorders in children such as Down Syndrome, Turners Syndrome, Kleinfelters Syndrome and more. The new technology called Microarray, is far more thorough and accurate than previous methods of testing.

Used in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), PGD is a cutting-edge technique that screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders prior to implantation. Such genetic conditions can interfere with Embryo Implantation, result in pregnancy loss, or the birth of a child with physical problems, developmental delay or mental retardation.

This new technology screens all 24 chromosomes and provides rapid results, eliminating the need to freeze embryos which can sometimes harm viability. Previous methods of PGD could only test a maximum of 9 – 12 chromosomes, leaving 12 or more untested. This caused 1 in 4 cases of aneuploidy – a chromosome abnormality - to be missed and if transferred, embryos that were unlikely to create healthy pregnancies.

Dr. Angeline Beltsos, reproductive endocrinologist with Fertility Centers of Illinois explains that this new PGD technology will provide better information to help select the best embryos for transfer during IVF. “The ability to test all 24 chromosomes and more accurately identify abnormal embryos may drastically improve pregnancy outcomes for ‘at risk’ couples, as well as significantly increase their odds of a healthy pregnancy and baby,” she adds.

Candidates for PGD testing include those experiencing recurrent miscarriage, previous unsuccessful IVF cycles, unexplained infertility, male factor infertility, or women of advanced maternal age.

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Tags : abnormalities, infertility, ivf