Authors

Nathan R. Treff, Ph.D., Xin Tao, M.Sc., Kathleen M. Ferry, B.Sc., Jing Su, M.Sc., Deanne Taylor, Ph.D., Richard T. Scott Jr., M.D., H.C.L.D.

Volume 97, Issue 4, Pages 819-824.e2

Abstract

Objective:

To develop and validate a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)–based method for blastocyst trophectoderm comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) of aneuploidy.

Design:

Prospective, randomized, and blinded.

Setting:

Academic center for reproductive medicine.

Patient(s):

Nine cell lines were obtained from a commercial cell line repository, and 71 discarded human blastocysts were obtained from 24 IVF patients that underwent preimplantation genetic screening.

Intervention(s):

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Consistency of qPCR diagnosis of aneuploidy compared with either conventional karyotyping of cell lines or microarray-based diagnoses of human blastocysts.

Result(s):

Samples from nine cell lines with well characterized karyotypes were diagnosed by qPCR with 97.6% (41/42) consistency. After applying a minimum threshold for concurrence, 100% consistency was achieved. Developmentally normal blastocysts designated as aneuploid or arrested blastocysts designated as euploid by single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray analyses were assigned identical 24 chromosome diagnoses by qPCR in 98.6% of cases (70/71). Overall euploidy (n = 37) and aneuploidy (n = 34) were assigned with 100% consistency. Data was obtained for both sample types in 4 hours.

Conclusion(s):

These data demonstrate the first qPCR technology capable of accurate aneuploidy screening of all 24 chromosomes in 4 hours. This methodology provides an opportunity to evaluate trophectoderm biopsies with subsequent fresh euploid blastocyst transfer. Randomized controlled trials to investigate the clinical efficacy of qPCR-based CCS are currently underway.

Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)00174-4/fulltext