PGT-A Genetic Testing: Does Screening Embryos Actually Im...

Fertility & IVF · 3 · September 20, 2025

PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) is IVF's most controversial add-on. It tests embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer — theoretically selecting only 'normal' embryos. In the US, 50% of IVF cycles now include PGT-A. But the evidence supporting universal PGT-A isn't as clear as marketing suggests.

What PGT-A Does and Doesn't Do

PGT-A analyzes 5-10 cells biopsied from the trophectoderm (outer layer) of a day-5 or day-6 blastocyst. Next-generation sequencing identifies embryos with the correct number of chromosomes (euploid) versus those with extra or missing chromosomes (aneuploid). The test is 98% accurate for detecting whole-chromosome aneuploidy.

What PGT-A doesn't do: it doesn't test the inner cell mass (which becomes the baby), it can't detect mosaicism with 100% certainty, and it doesn't test for single-gene disorders (that requires PGT-M, a different test). Importantly, PGT-A doesn't create more good embryos — it only identifies which existing embryos are chromosomally normal.

Who Benefits: The Evidence Is Age-Dependent

For women 38+, the evidence is strong: PGT-A reduces miscarriage rates by 50-60% and improves per-transfer live birth rates by 15-20%. This is because 60-80% of embryos from women over 38 are aneuploid. For women under 35, the benefit is unclear — only 20-30% of their embryos are aneuploid, and some 'abnormal' results are false positives (mosaic embryos that could have resulted in healthy pregnancies). A 2024 randomized trial in the New England Journal of Medicine found no improvement in cumulative live birth rate with PGT-A for women under 37.

Cost and Access Internationally

PGT-A costs $3,000-$5,000 per embryo batch (up to 8 embryos) in the US. In India: $500-$800. In Spain: $1,500-$2,500. In Czech Republic: $1,000-$1,800. For women over 38, the cost is justified by the reduction in failed transfers and miscarriages (each costing $5,000-$15,000 in the US). For younger women with multiple embryos, the cost-benefit calculation is less favorable.

Key Takeaways

- PGT-A is most beneficial for women 38+ — reducing miscarriage by 50-60%

- For women under 37, PGT-A does not improve cumulative live birth rates per NEJM 2024

- PGT-A costs $500-$800 per batch in India vs $3,000-$5,000 in the US

- The test doesn't create more good embryos — it identifies which ones are chromosomally normal

Compare real-time pricing using our global cost calculator.