Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is the examination in vitro of an embryo (or an egg cell prior to fertilisation) in order to exclude a genetic condition in case a very high risk of that condition is known. PGD can only be used in combination with in vitro fertilisation (IVF). If a genetic abnormality in the form of a monogenetic disease such as Huntington’s disease or cystic fibrosis occurs in a family, then it is often possible to find out whether an embryo also has that abnormality. The same applies to structural chromosomal abnormalities, such as translocations, that are often associated with serious conditions.