Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) for Riverview & Brandon Families

Families in Riverview and Brandon want more than hope from IVF—they want the most advanced tools available to reduce genetic risks, improve success rates, and protect their future child’s health. Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is one of the most powerful technologies in modern fertility care, and Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida has been performing it for more than 25 years.

This page explains what PGT is, who it helps, how it works in IVF, and why many Riverview and Brandon families are willing to drive a bit farther for a boutique clinic with one of the broadest preimplantation genetics experiences in the Southeastern United States.

What Is PGT (PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR)?

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is an umbrella term for advanced embryo testing performed during IVF before an embryo is transferred to the uterus. It allows the fertility team to identify embryos with abnormal chromosomes or specific genetic diseases, so that only the healthiest embryos are selected for transfer.

At Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida, PGT includes:

• PGT-A (formerly PGS): Screening embryos for abnormal chromosome numbers (aneuploidy) such as extra or missing chromosomes, including conditions like Down syndrome.
• PGT-M (formerly part of PGD): Testing embryos for specific inherited single-gene disorders (for example, cystic fibrosis), when a known genetic risk exists in the family.
• PGT-SR: Testing for structural chromosome rearrangements, such as translocations, that can cause recurrent miscarriage or failed implantation.

These tests can dramatically improve the odds of selecting an embryo with the correct number of chromosomes and free from specific known genetic diseases.

Learn more about Pre‑Implantation Genetic Testing in our detailed PGT overview.

Read about PGT‑A, PGT‑M, and PGT‑SR in our in‑depth PGS & PGD IVF section.

Who Should Consider PGT in Riverview & Brandon?

PGT is not necessary for every IVF patient, but it is especially valuable for families in Riverview and Brandon who:

• Are of advanced maternal age (often 35 or older) and want to reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
• Have experienced recurrent miscarriage, failed IVF cycles, or unexplained implantation failure.
• Know they are carriers of a specific genetic condition and want to avoid passing it on.
• Have a history of chromosomal rearrangements, such as balanced translocations.
• Want to maximize the chance that each embryo transfer leads to a healthy pregnancy and live birth.

Because genetically abnormal (aneuploid) embryos can look identical under the microscope to normal embryos, PGT can provide critical information beyond what morphology alone can show.

How PGT Works with IVF Step by Step

PGT is always performed as part of an IVF treatment cycle. For patients from Riverview and Brandon, the medical steps are the same as for local patients; many monitoring visits can be scheduled efficiently to reduce time away from work.

The process typically includes:

Ovarian Stimulation

The female partner takes fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to grow multiple mature eggs instead of a single egg.

Egg Retrieval

Eggs are retrieved using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle in a brief office procedure performed under light sedation.

Fertilization with ICSI

Eggs are fertilized with sperm using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected into each mature egg.

ICSI is required for accurate PGT because it prevents extra sperm from clinging to the egg and interfering with the genetic test.

Embryo Development in the Laboratory

Fertilized eggs develop in the embryology lab for 5–6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage (a day 5 or 6 embryo).

Trophectoderm Biopsy

At the blastocyst stage, a few cells are gently removed from the outer layer of the embryo (the trophectoderm), which will later form the placenta.

These cells are sent to a specialized genetics laboratory for testing, while the embryo is immediately frozen using vitrification (rapid freezing).

Genetic Analysis

Using complete genomic hybridization or microarray technology, the reference lab evaluates all 24 chromosomes (chromosomes 1–22 plus X and Y).

When indicated, single-gene tests are performed to detect specific inherited conditions.

Frozen Embryo Transfer

Once results are back, chromosomally normal and unaffected embryos are selected for transfer in a later frozen embryo transfer cycle.

Additional healthy embryos can remain frozen for future use.

Why Trophectoderm Biopsy Matters

Fertility Center & Applied Genetics has evolved its program over decades—from early day 3 embryo biopsies to today’s preferred day 5–6 trophectoderm biopsies.

Day 5–6 biopsies of the trophectoderm offer:

• Higher accuracy compared with sampling one or two cells from a day 3 embryo.
• Reduced risk of sampling error from mosaic embryos (embryos with mixed normal and abnormal cells).
• An agreement rate estimated at more than 98% between the trophectoderm genetics and the inner cell mass that becomes the baby.

Even with this advanced approach, no genetic test is 100% perfect, and standard prenatal screening during pregnancy is always recommended.

Safety and Limitations of PGT

Thousands of PGT and PGD cycles worldwide have resulted in the birth of healthy children. PGT has been used clinically since around 1990, and the technology has continually improved. In the Fertility Center & Applied Genetics program:

• The risk of damage to an embryo from biopsy is estimated at less than 1%.
• Biopsied embryos in the clinic’s laboratory show development rates comparable to embryos that were not biopsied when matched for age and diagnosis.
• The clinic’s experience includes early use of 24-chromosome microarray and complete genomic hybridization technology.

However, patients should understand:

• Not every embryo yields a readable genetic result.
• A “normal” result means normal within the limits of the test; it cannot guarantee a completely normal child.
• Some patients may not have enough embryos reach the blastocyst stage for biopsy.
• PGT cannot detect all possible genetic or developmental issues, including many subtle single-gene or mitochondrial diseases.
• Even after PGT, routine prenatal tests such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, or non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are still recommended in pregnancy.

Benefits of PGT for Riverview & Brandon Families

For families in Riverview, Brandon, and greater Tampa Bay, PGT offers several important advantages when used appropriately:

• Higher chance that each transferred embryo will implant and develop into a healthy pregnancy.
• Lower risk of miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities.
• Ability to avoid passing on specific known genetic disorders or chromosomal rearrangements to children.
• More informed decisions in IVF cycles, even when the number of embryos is limited.

For patients of advanced maternal age or those who have already experienced pregnancy loss or failed IVF cycles, these benefits can be especially meaningful.

25+ Years of Preimplantation Genetics Experience

Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida and Dr. Julio E. Pabon have been performing PGS and PGD since June 2000, with the first live birth reported in 2001. Since then, the clinic has remained at the forefront of preimplantation genetics in Florida and the Southeastern United States:

• Early adoption of 24-chromosome microarray technology, with the first pregnancies reported in 2009.
• First pregnancies using laser-assisted trophectoderm blastocyst biopsies with complete genomic hybridization in 2012.
• One of the broadest preimplantation genetics experiences in the region, backed by hundreds of cycles and ongoing refinement of laboratory techniques.

For Riverview and Brandon families seeking a clinic where genetics is not an afterthought but a core strength, this long-standing expertise is a key differentiator.

Why Riverview and Brandon Patients Choose Our Clinic

Many patients from Tampa, North Tampa, Riverview, and Brandon already travel to Fertility Center & Applied Genetics for IVF and PGT. They frequently cite:

• Warm, personal care in a private-practice setting instead of a high-volume corporate chain.
• Direct access to an experienced physician and embryology team with deep genetic testing expertise.
• The willingness to travel a bit farther along I-75 in exchange for individualized, advanced care.

Typical drive times from Riverview and Brandon to the clinic are under an hour, and scheduling is tailored to minimize disruption to work and family routines.

Next Steps: PGT Consultations for Riverview & Brandon

If you live in Riverview, Brandon, or the surrounding Tampa Bay area and are considering IVF with PGT, the first step is a detailed consultation. During this visit, Dr. Pabon and the team will:

• Review your fertility history, age, and prior treatments.
• Discuss whether PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR, or a combination is appropriate for your situation.
• Explain the expected benefits, limitations, costs, and logistics of monitoring when traveling from Riverview or Brandon.
• Design an IVF and PGT plan tailored to your medical needs and personal priorities.

To schedule a consultation, contact Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida and let the team know you are coming from Riverview or Brandon. The clinic can help coordinate appointments and treatment timing to make advanced genetic testing and boutique-level IVF care as convenient as possible.

Learn more about Pre‑Implantation Genetic Testing in our detailed PGT overview.

Read about PGT‑A, PGT‑M, and PGT‑SR in our in‑depth PGS & PGD IVF section.