ESHRE PGD Consortium/Embryology Special Interest Group--best practice guidelines for polar body and embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD/PGS)

In 2005, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Consortium published a set of Guidelines for Best Practice to give information, support and guidance to potential, existing and fledgling PGD programmes (Thornhill AR, De Die-Smulders CE, Geraedts JP, Harper JC, Harton GL, Lavery SA, Moutou C, Robinson MD, Schmutzler AG, Scriven PN et al. ESHRE PGD Consortium best practice guidelines for clinical preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). Hum Reprod 2005;20:35-48.). The subsequent years have seen the introduction of a number of new technologies as well as the evolution of current techniques. Additionally, in light of ESHRE's recent advice on how practice guidelines should be written and formulated, the Consortium believed it was timely to revise and update the PGD guidelines. Rather than one document that covers all of PGD as in the original publication, these guidelines are separated into four new documents that apply to different aspects of a PGD programme; Organization of a PGD centre, fluorescence in situ hybridization-based testing, amplification-based testing and polar body and embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD/PGS). Here we have updated the sections that pertain to embryology (including cryopreservation) and biopsy of embryos prior to PGD or PGS. Topics covered in this guideline include uses of embryo biopsy, laboratory issues relating to biopsy, timing of biopsy, biopsy procedure and cryopreserving biopsied embryos.