PGT vs PGS vs PGD: Embryo Genetic Testing Types & Costs Explained

If you have been reading about IVF, you have probably run into a wall of overlapping acronyms: PGS, PGD, PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR. Patients often ask the same question in different words – “aren’t these all the same embryo test?” The terminology changed, the science evolved, and each test now answers a different question about an embryo’s DNA. This guide explains what each type of embryo genetic testing screens for, how the biopsy and lab process works, who benefits most, and what really drives embryo genetic testing cost – without inventing prices that do not reflect your specific plan.

PGS and PGD Are Old Names – Here Is What Changed

Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) were the original terms for embryo genetic testing in IVF. In 2017, professional genetics societies standardized the terminology under one umbrella: preimplantation genetic testing, or PGT. You will still hear people say “pgs testing” or ask about “pgd testing cost” out of habit – the underlying lab technology is closely related. The modern classification simply splits testing by purpose:

• PGT-A (formerly PGS) – screens for aneuploidy, meaning an abnormal number of chromosomes
• PGT-M (formerly PGD) – diagnoses a specific single-gene disorder known to run in the family
• PGT-SR (formerly also under PGD) – detects structural chromosomal rearrangements, such as translocations, in embryos of a parent who carries one

So when comparing “pgs pgd” as if choosing between two options, the accurate framing is: PGT is the current name for the whole category, and PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR are the specific tests within it.

The Three Main Types of PGT Embryo Testing

PGT-A (Aneuploidy Screening)

PGT-A, sometimes still called pgta testing, checks whether an embryo has the correct number of chromosomes (euploid) or an incorrect number (aneuploid). Chromosomal errors are a leading cause of failed implantation, miscarriage, and conditions like Down syndrome. PGT-A is not disease-specific – it is a broad chromosomal count check, making it the most requested form of embryo screening, especially for recurrent miscarriage, advanced maternal age, or repeated implantation failure.

PGT-M (Single-Gene / Monogenic Disorders)

PGT-M testing, historically called PGD, is used when a specific inherited condition has already been identified in the family – for example, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or BRCA-related cancer risk. Unlike PGT-A, pgt m testing is custom-built for each family: the lab designs a targeted probe around the parents’ exact mutation, which is more specialized and time-intensive to set up.

PGT-SR (Structural Rearrangements)

PGT-SR is used when one or both intended parents carry a known chromosomal rearrangement, such as a balanced translocation. These parents are often chromosomally healthy themselves but at higher risk of producing embryos with unbalanced chromosome structures, which can cause miscarriage or failed implantation.

How Embryo DNA Testing Actually Works

Regardless of PGT type, the core embryo testing process follows the same steps:

• Embryos are cultured in the lab to the blastocyst stage (typically day 5 or 6)
• A small number of cells are gently removed from the outer layer (the trophectoderm), destined to become the placenta rather than the fetus – this is the biopsy
• The embryo is cryopreserved immediately after biopsy, since results take time to process
• The biopsied cells undergo next-generation sequencing (NGS), the current gold-standard method for analyzing embryo DNA
• Results classify each embryo as euploid, aneuploid, or mosaic, and for PGT-M/PGT-SR, as affected or unaffected/carrier

Because embryos are frozen during testing, PGT embryo testing is almost always paired with a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, not a fresh transfer.

Who Benefits Most from PGT Testing

PGT is not automatic for every IVF patient. It tends to offer the most value for:

• Women of advanced maternal age, where chromosomal abnormality rates rise significantly
• Couples with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss
• Patients with repeated IVF implantation failure despite good-quality embryos
• Known carriers of an inherited single-gene condition (PGT-M)
• Known carriers of a balanced chromosomal translocation (PGT-SR)
• Patients producing several embryos, where prioritizing which one to transfer first has real clinical value

For patients with few embryos or a straightforward first cycle, your specialist may discuss whether testing would actually change the treatment decision before recommending it.

What Drives PGT Testing Cost

A common question is about preimplantation genetic diagnosis cost or pgs testing cost per embryo – and there is no single number that applies to everyone. Embryo genetic testing cost is shaped by several variables, not a flat fee:

• Number of embryos tested – most labs charge per embryo biopsied, so more blastocysts means a higher total, though the per-embryo price may drop with volume
• Type of test – PGT-A is a standardized panel, while PGT-M requires custom probe design for the family’s mutation, adding setup cost and time
• Embryo freezing and storage – vitrification and ongoing cryostorage fees are separate from the genetic analysis
• Frozen embryo transfer cycle – since tested embryos are transferred later, medication and monitoring for that FET cycle are additional
• Laboratory logistics – some clinics run NGS in-house while others ship samples to a partner lab, which can affect turnaround and cost

Because these factors vary by patient and clinic, we do not publish a fixed pgt testing cost online – our team reviews your plan and gives you a transparent, itemized estimate first.

Limitations and Mosaicism

PGT is a powerful screening tool, but it is not infallible:

• Biopsy samples only a handful of placental-lineage cells, which may not always perfectly represent the entire embryo
• Some embryos return a mosaic result, a mix of normal and abnormal cells. Mosaic embryos are not simply “good” or “bad” – your physician will discuss the specific type and level with you
• No genetic test can guarantee a healthy baby or a successful pregnancy; it reduces certain risks, it does not eliminate all reproductive risk
• PGT-A screens chromosome number, not the full genome, so it does not diagnose every possible condition

Important: PGT Is Medical Testing Only

Preimplantation genetic testing at GynoLife IVF is performed strictly for recognized medical purposes: detecting chromosomal abnormalities, diagnosing known inherited disease risk, and identifying structural chromosomal issues. Non-medical sex selection is not a legal or ethical use of PGT in our clinic, and it is not something we offer. Any embryo-sex information generated during a legitimate medical test is handled per applicable law and clinical ethics guidelines, not as a selection criterion.

FAQ

Is PGS the same as PGT-A, and PGD the same as PGT-M?

Yes, essentially. PGS/PGD were the older names; PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR are the current, standardized terms for the same tests.

Does testing damage the embryo, and how long do results take?

Biopsy targets placenta-forming cells, not the fetus, and is a well-established, low-risk technique. Results usually take one to two weeks, which is why tested embryos are frozen and transferred in a later FET cycle.

Can PGT guarantee a pregnancy?

No. PGT reduces the chance of transferring an abnormal or affected embryo, but individual results always vary.

If you are weighing PGT-A, PGT-M, or PGT-SR for your own IVF journey, the GynoLife IVF team in Nicosia, Cyprus can walk you through which test fits your medical history and what a realistic cost estimate looks like for your embryo count. Reach out to our coordinators to schedule a consultation.