January 26, 2009

experts comment on new IVF screening technique

The technique will allow for the first time full chromosomal analysis and screening of an embryo prior to implantation during fertility treatment.

Mr Stuart Lavery, Consultant Gynaecologist, Director IVF Hammersmith, Hammersmith Hospital, said:

“The news of the first pregnancy in the UK following preimplantation genetic testing of an embryo using micro-array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the complexities of early human development.

“Although it is still at a very early stage, this technique may offer a new diagnostic and therapeutic hope to couples who suffer from repeated implantation failure in IVF.

“This development is also timely as previous methods of screening embryos to detect abnormality have not proven to be sufficiently effective in increasing live birth rates.

“Micro-array CGH represents a powerful tool enabling scientists to analyse to ask multiple questions of the human embryo to help identify which embryo stands the best chance of implanting and leading to the birth of a healthy baby.

“We need further research in this area so questions of reliability, efficacy and safety can be fully answered.”

Mr Tony Rutherford, Chair of the British Fertility Society, said:

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate the team at CARE Fertility for their exciting research into the use of comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) as a means of pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS), and to wish the patient described in the case history well. The technology certainly offers much promise.

“In a recent review paper, the British Fertility Society found there was “no compelling evidence that PGS improves the clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate, or that it reduces the miscarriage rate” (Human Fertility, 2008, 11: 71-75). One of the arguments put forward by the advocates of PGS is that the tests used up until now were not accurate enough and maybe CGH answers that question. However, whilst the BFS supports the application of new technologies such as array CGH, it is absolutely essential that these new techniques are subject to further rigorous research, and should only be offered to patients within the context of a robustly designed clinical trial, carried out in suitably experienced centres. The widespread use of this technology should await the outcome of such research to ensure we know which patients might benefit. All too often we see groundbreaking news about techniques that seem to offer great hope, but fail to live up to expectations when applied in widespread clinical practice.”