The journal “Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology” publishes an updated study on non-invasive embryo biopsy made by Instituto Bernabeu

Instituto Bernabeu’s constant research work is reflected in the interest shown by different scientific publications in its studies. Recently, the journal “Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology” has published a study on non-invasive embryo biopsy (niPGTA), which is done by studying the DNA released in the culture medium in which the embryo is placed, in order to detect chromosomal alterations. The study is entitled “Non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing using the embryo spent culture medium: an update”.

This is an updated review carried out by Instituto Bernabeu related to the different studies published on non-invasive preimplantation diagnosis (niPGTA) and provides new knowledge on this technique’s clinical relevance. The review carried out by the researchers evaluates the reliability of this genetic test and it could be an alternative to preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which would make it a simpler, less expensive and safer for the embryo tool.

The study’s first author, Dr Belén Lledó, scientific director of the IBBiotech genetics laboratory, explains that the presence of cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) in the culture medium in which the laboratory generated embryos from an oocyte and a spermatozoon union is found, would make it possible to develop a preimplantation genetic diagnosis to detect chromosomal alterations without the need to perform an embryo biopsy.

However, Dr Lledó warns that, for the time being, the concordance between the results obtained by PGT-A and niPGTA varies between studies and its clinical usefulness has not been demonstrated.

IB’s experts recognize the need for further research to corroborate this technique’s efficacy whose main benefit for patients is to avoid embryo biopsy.

The clinical results obtained are still preliminary, so scientists acknowledges that more studies are needed…

“Publications so far show high rates of discordance between the results obtained from PGD through trophectoderm biopsy (invasive method currently used) and those obtained from free DNA in the culture medium. Our review is consistent with previous reviews in which we conclude that there is insufficient scientific evidence for the clinical application of non-invasive preimplantation PGD”, concluded the expert.

Instituto Bernabeu has developed previous studies and as a result of the research done, it has already published a scientific study in the specialized journal RBM Online: “Consistent results of non-invasive PGT-A of human embryos using two different techniques for chromosomal analysis”. In turn, the Institution has been awarded in 2021 with the Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR) national prize, for the research in non-invasive embryo diagnosis, which places Instituto Bernabeu as a scientific reference in this field.

Non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing using the embryo spent culture medium: an update

B. Lledó, R. Morales, JA Ortiz, A. Bernabeu, R. Bernabeu