WHAT IS COMPREHENSIVE CHROMOSOME SCREENING (NGS)?
08 December 2024
IVF treatments are supported by a wide range of tests and analyzes to get a healthy result. With the help of these tests, problems that may occur before and after pregnancy are also detected and planning is carried out in this direction. NGS, a genetic analysis technology that allows comprehensive chromosome screening to be performed in embryos, is a test that gives extremely effective results as technological developments gain momentum. With NGS, embryos are scanned quickly and effectively, and genetic problems at the chromosome level are detected before pregnancy. The aim of this method is to select a healthy embryo by performing genetic analysis on embryos before the transfer process and to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. You can continue reading our article for the details of the NGS test.
What is Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (NGS)?
It is extremely important that the embryos obtained in IVF treatments are successfully transferred to the uterus. But in some cases, pregnancy may not be achieved. One of the most important reasons why a healthy pregnancy cannot be achieved despite embryo transfer in treatment has been identified as chromosome disorders that occur in embryos. In order to achieve a healthy and successful result in IVF treatments, it is necessary to analyze the embryos in detail and detect chromosomal abnormalities. Previously, the multidimensional and complex structure of chromosomes would have made multiple tests necessary. While this situation is quite time consuming and costly, the NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) test appears as a result of the developing technology today. The NGS method is a newly developed genetic analysis technology that allows comprehensive chromosome screening of embryos. The NGS method allows all embryos to be screened within a short period of time. With NGS, which offers a quick and detailed scan, chromosome-related problems are diagnosed before pregnancy. All 24 chromosomes are scanned with the NGS test.
Comprehensive chromosomal screening practices performed by the NGS method play an extremely important role in diagnosing disorders and have an effect on facilitating healthy outcomes in IVF treatments.
What are the Features of the NGS Technique?
Chromosomal abnormalities are determined by screening with the NGS method. Embryos containing more than two or more cell communities with different chromosomal structures are called “mosaic embryos”. Mosaic embryos are detected more easily with the NGS technique. After these chromosomal abnormalities detected by the NGS test are detected accurately and in detail, the process is advanced by including them in the treatment planning. Compared to the different PGD methods used to date and known, the NGS method provides a high-intensity scanning area, allowing you to detect even some genetic disorders, as well as numerical changes occurring in chromosomes.
What Genetic Defects Can Be Detected with NGS-Based PGS?
Embryos obtained in IVF treatment are evaluated according to various criteria in terms of the characteristics they have, and a healthy result is sought by ensuring the transfer of the embryo with the best developmental characteristics to the uterus. Examination of the developmental characteristics of the embryo under a microscope by classical methods does not give a clear information about the chromosomal state of the embryo. This information is only reached by performing a genetic screening with PGS. Even if the embryos have a good quality structure, they can contain various chromosomal problems, and this can also lead to problems such as early miscarriages, some structural disorders in the developing fetus, or the embryo does not hold on to the uterus. The main purpose of using the PGS method, which is an NGS-based method, is to increase the adhesion of the embryo to the uterus, which is found to have a chromosomally normal structure, to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage that may occur later, and as a result, to increase the likelihood of couples having healthy babies. The NGS-based PGS operation is performed by embryologists who have the necessary education and experience in this regard. The process takes a short time and does not cause any harm to the embryo. The PGS process begins by combining the egg taken from the expectant mother and the sperm taken from the expectant father outside the body. 5. Development of embryos from formed embryos. or 6. on the day when the blastocyst is at the stage, several cells are taken by biopsy without damaging the embryo. These received cells are sent to the genetic laboratory for a scan of 24 chromosomes, while the embryos are frozen. At this point, it is extremely important that the procedure is performed by a qualified embryologist so that the embryo does not get damaged. At the end of this examination, the embryo or embryos whose genetic structure has been determined to be healthy are transferred after completion of intrauterine preparation and pregnancy results that reach higher rates are obtained, especially.
To summarize briefly; NGS-based PGS is a genetic screening method and can be used to detect numerical and structural imbalances in chromosomes. However, single gene diseases, especially those with familial transmission, cannot be detected with the PGS method.
Who are the Groups of Patients Who Can Be Administered NGS?
The benefits of the NGS method, which is a new generation genetic analysis technology, also raises the question of which patient groups this technique can be applied to. Before answering this question, we can state that the intended point of the NGS method is to be able to detect numerical and structural changes in chromosomes. Therefore, we can address the question of which people have these changes more often for groups of patients who can be administered NGS. Groups of patients for whom NGS can be applied can be listed as follows;
· In cases of repeated miscarriage,
· in expectant mothers over the age of 38,
· In severe male infertility,
* In cases of infertility, the cause of which is unknown,
· It is applied in cycles of continuous self-recurring treatment failures.
The NGS method, which is a rapidly developing field, is actively used in many countries today due to its possibilities and facilitating and accelerating effects for the process.
What are the Advantages of Preimplantastone Genetic Screening with NGS?
NGS, a new genetic examination method used to screen for 24 chromosomes in embryos, provides the opportunity to examine and sequence the entire human genome both numerically and structurally in a short period of time, such as a single day. It offers us a revolutionary technology in this aspect. The improved NGS method can detect mosaic embryos better than other PGD methods. The main advantages of Preimplantastone Genetic Screening with NGS are that it allows you to quickly scan a large area of genes, both numerically and structurally. In addition to scanning gene fields numerically and structurally, the NGS method also has advantages such as obtaining a more accurate result with a low margin of error, achieving faster results, and having a lower cost. With this method, 24 chromosome screening can also be performed simultaneously with the study of single gene diseases and HLA typing.
Does NGS Damage the Embryo?
IVF treatments are an extremely exciting period for couples. During this period, in order to obtain a healthy result, various tests are applied to the embryos obtained to determine the success rate. In some cases, couples may have a high risk of genetically abnormal embryo development. Advanced maternal age is one of these conditions. Embryos that are not genetically normal are not suitable for transfer. In order to be able to determine the chromosomal status of embryos and to obtain a healthy result, process planning is carried out in the light of the NGS result. Another confusing situation for couples at this point is whether NGS causes any damage to the embryo during the application phase. Doctors who specialize in their field and NGS performed under appropriate conditions do not pose a danger risk to the embryo. At this point, managing and planning the process in accordance with the needs with a reliable specialist and institution will also be an extremely important step.
Does Pregnancy Always Occur With a Smoothly Detected Embryo?
After the tests and examinations, embryos that do not carry any genetic abnormalities are placed in the uterus. The probability of the occurrence of pregnancy after this procedure develops due to various factors. These factors;
· Women's age
· The amount of ovarian reserve of the woman
* Sperm quality
· Embryo quality
· Ensuring a proper intrauterine environment
· The presence of hydrosalpinx
· Conditions encountered during embryo transfer
it can be sorted as follows. All these factors are among the dec that affect the occurrence of pregnancy. From this point of view, it is impossible to say that pregnancy always occurs with an embryo that is detected without problems.
Studies have shown that age-related embryos are less likely to be chromosomally normal. For this reason, pregnancy rates are also decreasing due to the increasing age of women, especially in IVF trials that have not been applied to PGS. In women under the age of forty, NGS-based PGS normal embryos vary between 40 and 60 percent probability with the results of the analysis, the rate falls below twenty percent in people over the age of 40.
In women over the age of forty, a low pregnancy rate is achieved by transferring an embryo that has not been genetically screened with NGS, while this rate is increased by transferring an embryo that has been diagnosed with NGS and is chromosomally normal.
How Many Days Do NGS Results Come Out?
The embryos that have been biopsied are 5 or 6 until they reach the blastocyst stage. by following it up to the day, only embryos that have not been detected as abnormalities are transferred to the expectant mother's uterus (uterus). The NGS process applied to the embryos is completed within the same day. In this way, treatment planning is quickly directed.
What are the NGS Test Prices?
The information obtained from the results of the NGS test gives a comprehensive information for the IVF process. At this point, NGS, a new generation genetic screening test, has entered our lives as a result of high technology. It is a method that also has many advantages, especially if it provides a quick and wide information about the chromosomal state of the embryo. In addition to the advantages it provides, NGS is a method that also has an extremely low cost. This is a situation that also increases the availability of the test. As the Huma IVF family, we continue to be there for our couples during this exciting process. For all your questions about NGS, you can review our site and contact us for detailed information.
In this article, we have included details about the NGS method. It is important to detect embryos that do not have chromosomal abnormalities, as well as to successfully transfer the embryos obtained in IVF treatments to the uterus. Comprehensive chromosomal screening practices performed by the NGS method play an extremely effective role in detecting chromosomal disorders in embryos and increase the risk of a positive outcome of the process.