New York State Department of Health Provides Reprogenetics LLC With the Only Comprehensive License for Genetic Testing Services to Patients of Fertility Centers in New York State

Reprogenetics LLC is one of the largest providers of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) in the country.

West Orange, NJ (PRWEB) October 30, 2004 -- Reprogenetics LLC is one of the largest providers of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) in the country. It was founded by Drs. Santiago Munné and Jacques Cohen and has provided services to patients for over 10 years. Recently, the company has been fully recognized by the New York state Department of Health, which has provided Reprogenetics LLC with a unique clinical laboratory permit for genetic testing services to patients of all in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers in New York State. This is the only comprehensive license of this type given out by the state of New York.

PGD is a tried and tested procedure for genetic testing of pre-embryos working as an extension to assisted reproductive technology, and has been successfully proven to help many types of infertility patients. It tests chromosomal and genetic complements and aims to diagnose complete and healthy pre-embryos for replacement to the IVF patient as part of the normal IVF procedure. The license permits Reprogenetics LLC, based in West Orange, New Jersey (www.reprogenetics.com), to test human pre-embryonic cells from IVF clinics throughout New York state.

PGD works in concert with the IVF procedure, generally consisting of removing a cell from a patient's pre-embryo three days after the eggs are retrieved from the patient and fertilized in the IVF laboratory. Each cell is removed by a micro-surgical procedure using a microscope and is mounted on a slide which is sent to the company's New Jersey facility. There they are tested for genetic disorders such as abnormal numbers of chromosomes (aneuploidy) or broken chromosomes (translocation). Meanwhile the patient's pre-embryos continue to develop normally in an incubator. Since pre-embryos developing in the laboratory can only be kept for a few days before being returned to the mother, the genetic results must be returned promptly, indicating which pre-embryos are suitable for replacement. Thanks to the extraordinary technology used by Reprogenetics LLC, the results are normally available within one day after receiving the sample; sometimes within a few hours.

The chromosome related tests are usually for patients that lose pregnancies because of chromosomal anomalies in the fetus, so it is especially recommended for women over 35 years of age and others who are at risk of transmitting genetic disease to their children. The company also offers compatibility testing for bone marrow transplant cases where blood types need to be matched. The New York state license issued to Reprogenetics LLC also covers genetic testing for patients who are carriers of inheritable gene defects, including cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs and muscular dystrophy, to name but a few. Ongoing company research continues to add new tests to the list of treatable disorders.

Reprogenetics LLC provides genetic diagnostic services for over 90 IVF centers in the USA (including 9 in New York) and has laboratory facilities in California, New Jersey, Japan and Spain.

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