Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) -- removing a cell from an IVF embryo to test it for a specific genetic condition before transferring the embryo to the uterus -- can ensure a healthy baby during IVF, a study has revealed.

According to the study by Igenomix, world's giant in reproductive genetic laboratory, majority of abnormal embryos are indistinguishable from normal embryos. PGS testing helps IVF physicians and patients decide which embryos to transfer. The study, released on Monday, says that normal embryo appearance cannot be used to evaluate for chromosome abnormalities.

"For women in their mid-thirties and older, the risk of chromosome abnormalities is significantly higher than for younger women. Women with a history of recurrent miscarriage or recurrent implantation failure, or who have had a prior pregnancy with a chromosome abnormality, or men with abnormal sperm analysis may also create a higher percentage of abnormal embryos," said Rajni Khajuria, Laboratory Manager at Igenomix.

Among the advantages PGS test has are increase in implantation rate, reduction in miscarriage rate, and increase in the chance of delivering a healthy baby. According to medical sciences, over 50 per cent of spontaneous miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities.  "Some birth defects are caused by chromosome abnormalities, and the risks of having a child with a chromosome abnormality increases with maternal age," said Khajuria.

PGS for aneuploidy screening also increases pregnancy success for couples where the man has an abnormal sperm analysis.  "For couples who experience male-factor infertility, approximately 55-65 per cent of embryos may be chromosomally abnormal, depending on the severity of the male factor," said the study.