B.T. Miller

Clinically recognizable error rate after the transfer of comprehensive chromosomal screened euploid embryos is low

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinically recognizable error rate with the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based comprehensive chromosomal screening (CCS). DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Multiple fertility centers. PATIENT(S) All patients receiving euploid designated embryos. INTERVENTION(S) Trophectoderm biopsy for CCS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Evaluation of the pregnancy outcomes following the transfer of qPCR-designated euploid embryos. Calculation of the clinically recognizable error rate. RESULT(S) A total of 3,168 transfers led to 2,354 pregnancies (74.3%). Of 4,794 CCS euploid embryos transferred, 2,976 gestational sacs developed, reflecting a clinical implantation rate of 62.1%. In the cases where a miscarriage occurred and products of conception were available for analysis, ten were ultimately found to be aneuploid. Seven were identified in the products of conception following clinical losses and three in ongoing pregnancies. The clinically recognizable error rate per embryo designated as euploid was 0.21% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.37). The clinically recognizable error rate per transfer was 0.32% (95% CI 0.16-0.56). The clinically recognizable error rate per ongoing pregnancy was 0.13% (95% CI 0.03-0.37). Three products of conception from aneuploid losses were available to the molecular laboratory for detailed examination, and all of them demonstrated fetal mosaicism. CONCLUSION(S) The clinically recognizable error rate with qPCR-based CCS is real but quite low. Although evaluated in only a limited number of specimens, mosaicism appears to play a prominent role in misdiagnoses. Mosaic errors present a genuine limit to the effectiveness of aneuploidy screening, because they are not attributable to technical issues in the embryology or analytic laboratories.