NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

Technology for embryo selection Couples who come to consult about infertility, aside from wanting to have children, they often have further questions: “Will the child be completely normal? Is there any technology that will help select to have normal offspring?” Currently, we have many technologies for selecting embryos, but the most commonly used technologies are 2 technologies:

1. Embryoscope

Embryo incubator with camera installed and an imaging system using Time - lapse system technology. The system determines the time period using an Embryoscope camera to capture moving images of the embryo to help scientists monitor the division and development of the embryo. This makes the selection of embryos for implantation more efficient. Because the growth of the embryo changes all the time. Evaluating the embryo for only one period of time cannot tell whether the embryo is truly healthy. Appearance that looks good cannot 100% tell the strength of the inside of the embryo. This technology has come in to help assess the quality of the embryo better and more thoroughly.

2. Preimplantation genetic testing

Technology for genetic testing of embryos before implantation has developed greatly. Pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos was originally developed in 1980 by using the PCR process to increase the amount of genetic material in diseases transmitted through sex chromosomes. Due to technical limitations, the test can only detect the gender of the embryo and does not specifically detect abnormal genes or chromosomes. and choose to transfer embryos of the gender that does not have the disease or is only a carrier whose disease manifestations are not severe This causes the loss of embryos of the other sex, which may develop severe or normal diseases. without knowing the true abnormalities of each embryo Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technique that specifically detects It can detect both gender and genetic abnormalities, including chromosomal abnormalities. Today's technology for genetic testing of embryos before implantation has developed continuously in terms of increasing the amount of genetic material and more accurate testing techniques, such as Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), Next Generation Sequencing ( NGS), real time PCR and Karyomapping

Currently, technology is often used to genetically test embryos before implantation. It is an examination using the NGS technique or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), which examines the embryo's chromosomes, all 24 chromosomes, making it more accurate in embryo selection. Including increasing the percentage of pregnancy and reducing the chance of miscarriage by up to 50%. Currently, embryo genetic testing is usually done on blastocyst stage embryos or Day 5 embryos after egg collection due to the amount of genetic material. that can be analyzed a lot and has little effect on the growth of the embryo.​​​​​​​

By Assoc.Prof. Matchuporn Sukprasert