Bourn Hall Clinic in Dubai offers the latest in genetic screening

"Genetic disease is a concern in the UAE, particularly among the Emirati population, and other groups, where marriage often takes place between related individuals.

For some years now, it has been possible to detect some diseases and abnormalities by testing a woman once she is pregnant but this is invasive, and limited in what can be picked up. Clearly, it would be preferable to avoid pregnancy with an affected child," advised Dr. David Robertson, Medical Director of Bourn Hall Clinic.

Patients undergoing IVF can consider preimplantation diagnosis (PGD), where a fertilized egg, or embryo, is tested before being replaced into the woman. Until recently, however, this has also been of limited use, as only some genetic material could be examined. Recent advances in this field, however, mean that we can now check all the genetic material in an embryo, through a technique known as array CGH. This allows examination of all the embryo's chromosomes, so that a wider range of abnormalities can be detected. The sex of the embryo is also determined. Specific genetic diseases can also be excluded through further testing.

This technique is of great benefit to couples who are concerned that they are at risk of having a child with a genetic abnormality. It may also be of benefit in couples that have had repeated miscarriages, or have been through several IVF unsuccessful treatments.