Preimplantation genetic testing for human blastocysts with potential parental contamination using a quantitative parental contamination test (qPCT): an evidence-based study

Research question: Is it possible to develop a quantitative method for detecting parental DNA contamination in conventional IVF using preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A)?

Design: In this study, a quantification method was established for the parental contamination test (qPCT), which ensured more reliable results, and then verified its effectiveness for vitrified conventional IVF embryos. A total of 120 surplus vitrified blastocysts from patients who underwent prior routine IVF cycles were available for study.

Results: The results of the prospective clinical study of qPCT-PGT-A showed that the maternal contamination rate was 0.83% (1/120) and that the risk of paternal contamination was negligible. The 24 frozen embryo transfer cycles resulted in 16 clinical pregnancies, including 13 live births, one late inevitable miscarriage and two ongoing pregnancies.

Conclusions: The risk of PGT in embryos with potential parental contamination is relatively low, and PGT-A is applicable for vitrified conventional IVF embryos.