COMPARATIVE GENOMIC HYBRIDIZATION (CGH)
June 12, 2009
Preimplantation Genetics of all 24 chromosomes !!
Preimplantation Genetic Screening/Diagnosis (PGS & PGD) consists of the biopsy of a single cell per embryo, followed by its genetic diagnosis through different techniques, and the subsequent replacement to the patient or freezing, of only those embryos classified by genetic diagnosis as normal. Since the early 1990s, the standard preimplantation genetics testing methods, using PGS/PGD techniques, have only allowed for the evaluation of 9 to 12 chromosomes out of a total of 23 chromosome pairs in the human embryo cell.
Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) and MicroArray solve this problem by evaluating all 23 chromosome pairs, allowing completely screened normal embryos to be identified and transferred or frozen. The field of Preimplantation Genetics has been recently revitalized with the appearance of these new CGH and MicroArray technologies.
The future of Preimplantation Genetic testing is now available at both our Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) Chicago area IVF clinics - FCI Highland Park IVF and FCI River North IVF! Due to our long-standing relationships with ReproGenetics (www.Reprogenetics.com ) and the Center for Preimplantation Genetics (www.PGDCenter.com), as well as our excellent day 5 blastocyst culture methods and embryo freezing (vitrification) techniques, FCI is one of only a handful of IVF programs world-wide able to offer this major breakthrough.