Moving beyond PGT – A and PGT – M, Genesis IVF now offers Preimplantation Genetic Testing for HLA Typing to be done concurrently on a single platform with PGT – A and PGT – M. This test is done to help parents conceive a child who is a tissue (HLA) match with their older sibling – who may be suffering from a life-threatening blood disorder and the only cure is bone marrow or cord blood stem cell transplantation.
PGT HLA matching is used to identify embryos that are HLA compatible with a child who needs of bone marrow or cord blood transplant. PGT – HLA seeks to harvest and use stem cells in the umbilical cord blood (otherwise considered a waste material) of the newly born child.
The child (or the future sibling) of such tissue are often called “Savior Sibling”.
PGT – HLA may be helpful if couple have a child with :
- Life – limiting blood disorder like beta thalassaemia major, Fanconi’s anaemia or Diamond-Blackfan anaemia; and
- There is no living tissue donor available in your family, and unrelated donor may not be suitable.