NICS Genetic Testing Increases IVF & FET Pregnancy Success Rates

Non-Invasive Chromosomal Screening (NICS) is an innovative and non-invasive genetic testing method used to detect chromosomal abnormalities in embryos culturing in vitro. NICS increases IVF and FET pregnancy success rates by up to 30%. NICS is an in vitro evaluation of the efficacy of a single-embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage (5 days growth). NICS is the sequencing of free genomic DNA in the culture medium of individual blastocysts and obtaining chromosomal ploidy information.

NICS Technology

The development of NICS technology at New Hope Fertility Center marks a huge and truly a momentous achievement. We are now one of only a handful of centers around the world offering a validated and accurate platform for analyzing embryologic DNA in a completely non-invasive fashion.

This cutting-edge technology detects chromosomal deficiencies in embryos – aneuploidy – an extra or missing chromosome.

When abnormal embryos detected using NICS, they are discarded. Only quality embryos are transferred to the mother’s uterus – or – frozen (cryopreserved) for future FETs.

• NICS does not require an embryo biopsy (extraction of cells)
• NICS is non-invasive procedure because a small sample of culture media surrounding the embryo is extracted for testing
• NICS causes little to no stress on the embryo as it develops in vitro

Advantages of NICS Procedure

• Less embryo manipulation
• Culture media is processed on site (no transportation concerns)
• Avoids disruptive embryo biopsies which have been recently shown to increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and placental problems in pregnancy

Other Benefits of NICS

Other benefits of NICS in conjunction with IVF include:

• Improved birth rates of healthy babies
• Gender identification and selection

Candidates for NICS

• Any woman desiring prenatal genetic screening to rule out Down Syndrome or other syndromes
• Women desiring to lower the risk of a miscarriage
• Recurrent pregnancy loss (2 or more miscarriages)
• Recurrent implantation failure (multiple failed embryo transfers)

NICS Can Increase IVF Pregnancy Success Rate Up To 30 Percent!

State-of-the-art genetics technologies have proven to increase IVF pregnancy rates. Through the medical marvel of NICS in conjunction with IVF, genetic and chromosomal abnormalities can be detected in embryos.

• Only high quality embryos are transferred to the patient’s uterus
• Only high quality embryos are cryopreserved for future FET procedures

Aging and Embryo Quality

As a woman advances in age, the chance for low quality embryos increases.

Low quality embryos result in:

• Low pregnancy success rates
• High miscarriage rates
• High chance for birth defects

NICS Technology Expertise

Dr. John Zhang’s NICS technology expertise in conjunction with IVF offers the highest pregnancy success rates and best overall patient satisfaction. To schedule your initial consultation, call 212.969.7422.