PGT-A Testing in India: Cost, Accuracy, and Who Actually Needs It

No.

A euploid PGT-A result is reassuring regarding the chromosome-number abnormalities assessed by the test, but it does not mean that the embryo is guaranteed to implant or that the resulting baby will have no medical or genetic condition.

PGT-A does not screen for every:

• Single-gene disorder
• Structural birth defect
• Developmental condition
• Pregnancy complication
• Genetic change outside the scope of the test

Even after transferring a PGT-A-tested embryo, appropriate prenatal screening and diagnostic testing should be discussed with the obstetric team.

Who Actually Needs PGT-A?

This is where the conversation becomes more interesting.

Not everyone undergoing IVF needs PGT-A.

ASRM's 2024 committee opinion concludes that the routine use of PGT-A in all IVF patients has not been demonstrated to improve outcomes.

However, there are situations where discussing PGT-A with a fertility specialist may make sense.

1. Advanced maternal age

The proportion of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities tends to increase with maternal age.

PGT-A may therefore be discussed more frequently in older patients, particularly when the patient has several blastocysts available for testing.

However, age alone does not automatically mean that PGT-A will improve cumulative live birth.

2. Recurrent pregnancy loss

Patients who have experienced repeated miscarriages may discuss PGT-A as part of a broader evaluation.

Chromosomal abnormalities are an important cause of miscarriage, but recurrent pregnancy loss can have many causes.

PGT-A should therefore not be treated as a universal solution for recurrent miscarriage.

3. Repeated IVF implantation failure

Patients with repeated unsuccessful embryo transfers may be offered PGT-A.

The reasoning is straightforward: if chromosomal abnormalities are contributing to unsuccessful implantation, selecting embryos based on PGT-A results might help some patients.

However, the evidence remains mixed, and other causes of implantation failure should also be evaluated.

4. Patients with several blastocysts

PGT-A may be more practically useful when multiple blastocysts are available.