Chromosome aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome copy number) is a major cause of IVF failure, pregnancy loss and in rare cases, affected live births. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), following culture to the blastocyst stage, trophectoderm biopsy, vitrification and testing by next generation sequencing (NGS) based methods for chromosome copy number analysis, is now widely used to identify embryos with normal chromosome copy number (euploid).
In this recorded webinar, Professor Alan Handyside reviews evidence for the effectiveness of PGT-A as an additional tool for embryo selection to improve clinical outcomes, particularly for single embryo transfers. Prof Handyside also considers how to implement PGT-A successfully and reviews prospects for non-invasive testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) using spent culture medium.
Presenter - Prof. Alan H. Handyside
Working with Prof Lord Robert Winston at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, reported the first pregnancies worldwide following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis of inherited disease in 1990. First chairman of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Special Interest Group in Reproductive Genetics and co-founder and first chairman of the ESHRE PGD Consortium. Currently, Honorary Professor at the School of Biosciences, University of Kent in Canterbury, UK, ex-President of the International Society for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGDIS), President of the International Society for Reproductive Genetics (ISRG) and scientific advisor (genomics) to Vitrolife Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.