ESHRE PGD Consortium ‘Best practice guidelines for clinical preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS)’

Among the many educational materials produced by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) are guidelines. ESHRE guidelines may be developed for many reasons but their intent is always to promote best quality practices in reproductive medicine. In an era in which preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has become a reality, we must strive to maintain its efficacy and credibility by offering the safest and most effective treatment available. The dominant motivators for the development of current comprehensive guidelines for best PGD practice were (i) the absence of guidelines and/or regulation for PGD in many countries and (ii) the observation that no consensus exists on many of the clinical and technical aspects of PGD. As a consequence, the ESHRE PGD Consortium undertook to draw up guidelines aimed at giving information, support and guidance to potential, fledgling and established PGD centres. The success of a PGD treatment cycle is the result of great attention to detail. We have strived to provide a similar level of detail in this document and hope that it will assist staff in achieving the best clinical outcome for their patients.