Pre-implantation Screening and Diagnosis

Abstract

Through cellular biopsy of a developing embryo, genetic testing can be performed as part of the embryo selection phase of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) allow embryos to be tested for genetic conditions on a chromosome and gene level, respectively, prior to implantation in the uterus and prior to pregnancy. Included in this review are indications for PGS and PGD, the biopsy and diagnostic methods that are most frequently utilized, advances in recent non-invasive technologies, and potential impacts that PGS/PGD and IVF may have on developing embryos. This review contains 5 figures, 1 table, and 53 references.  Keywords: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, preimplantation genetic screening, blastocyst biopsy, blastomere biopsy, advances in PGS/PGD, indications for PGS/PGD, non-invasive embryo biopsy, infertility