Laser blastocyst biopsy for preimplantation diagnosis in the human

Abstract

SummaryA new methodology for blastocyst biopsy that uses a 1.48μm in diode laser is described. Trophectoderm cells are biopsied after laster zona drilling and culture, fixed and processed for fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis. Preliminary results on the efficiency of the procedure and blastocyst recovery rate are promising. Blastocyst laser biopsy is a useful tool in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) as it allows a more reliable diagnosis and widens the diagnostic possibilities on account of the higher number of cells obtained in the biopsy.