Testing for Polygenic Disorders (PGT-P)

At the Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine (VCRM), we remain dedicated to bringing the latest scientifically validated breakthroughs in reproductive medicine to our patients. Preimplantation genetic testing for polygenic disorders (PGT-P) represents a profound evolutionary leap beyond single-gene testing.

While traditional PGT-M tests for monogenic ("single gene") mutations (such as Cystic Fibrosis or Huntington’s Disease), most prevalent chronic health conditions are polygenic—meaning they result from the cumulative impact of hundreds or thousands of subtle genetic variations interacting with environmental factors over a lifetime.

Using LifeView™ PGT-P (developed by Genomic Prediction), our embryology team can evaluate the complex polygenic architecture of embryos created during an IVF cycle. This allows intended parents to screen against multiple high-impact medical conditions simultaneously with standard chromosomal number testing (PGT-A).

LifeView™ PGT-P evaluates polygenic risk scores across twelve major categories of chronic, adult-onset, and life-limiting medical disorders:

All couples undergoing IVF can benefit from LifeView™ PGT-P. Because PGT-P already includes full aneuploidy screening (PGT-A), it offers an effortless way to maximize diagnostic insights from a single cycle.

PGT-P is especially valuable for:

• Couples with a Family History: Patients with a strong family lineage of heart disease, early heart attacks, breast or prostate cancer, diabetes, or schizophrenia.
• Couples with Elevated Carrier or Adult Screening Risks: Individuals found to have heightened polygenic predispositions during pre-pregnancy health evaluations.
• Patients Already Doing PGT-A: Intended parents who want the most comprehensive screening available to guide their embryo transfer priority without performing any extra invasive procedures on their embryos.
• Couples Seeking Sibling Risk Optimization: Families who want an objective, evidence-based method to select among multiple euploid (chromosomally normal) blastocysts.

A common question from prospective parents is: "If we test for multiple conditions, how do we decide which embryo to transfer?"

LifeView™ PGT-P solves this complex challenge through a sophisticated mathematical model: the Embryo Health Score (EHS). All disease risk calculations for each individual embryo are combined into a single, comprehensive health score. The embryos are then presented in an objective ranking order from lowest overall health risk to highest risk.

Under the direct supervision of Dr. Fady Sharara and our specialized genetics team, PGT-P integrates seamlessly into your IVF cycle:

Yes. All LifeView™ PGT-P testing automatically includes PGT-A (aneuploidy screening) at no additional fee. This ensures your embryo has the correct 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) before any polygenic considerations are applied.

Furthermore, LifeView™ PGT-P can be expanded to include additional specialized diagnostics without requiring any extra embryo biopsies:

• PGT-M (Monogenic Disease Screening): Tests for single-gene hereditary mutations (e.g. BRCA1/2, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Disease).
• PGT-SR (Structural Rearrangements): Identifies chromosomal translocations, inversions, and deletions in carrier parents.
• M2 Genetic Miscarriage Risk Assessment: Evaluates embryo-specific genetic factors associated with early pregnancy loss.
• Included Genetic Counseling: Virtual genetic counseling sessions are included with every LifeView™ test at no additional cost.

Watch this educational video exploring how Genomic Prediction's LifeView™ technology empowers parents to make informed, data-driven decisions for their future children: