13 more genetic conditions approved for testing before embryos implanted for IVF

They carry risks of conditions such as breast cancer, brittle bone disease, or miscarriage

- Yap Wei Qiang Correspondent

Thirteen severe genetic conditions have been added to a list of conditions approved for testing before couples decide to go ahead with the implantation of embryos in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Of these, six are single gene defects that can put a person at greater risk of conditions like breast cancer and mild brittle bone disease.

The remaining seven are chromosomal abnormalities that carry an increased risk of miscarriage, which would likely make the embryos unsuitable for IVF.

In response to queries from The Sunday Times, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it allows pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos for severe genetic conditions "that are highly likely to develop in individuals and have limited treatment options available".

An MOH spokeswoman confirmed that the 13 conditions were added on Oct 31.

They bring the total number of conditions approved for PGT to 169, including those previously approved for testing, such as Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy, sickle cell anaemia, and haemophilia A and B.

The MOH spokeswoman said financial support for pre-implantation testing of approved conditions is available to eligible couples who would like to conceive but are at risk of transmitting serious inheritable diseases to their newborns.

Since July 1, 2022, couples where at least one spouse is a Singapore citizen and who are assessed to meet a set of clinical criteria can receive up to 75 per cent in co-funding from the Government, subject to caps, to cover part of their PGT costs if they visit a public assisted reproduction (AR) centre.