Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): How Often US Clinics Use It

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) analyzes a few cells taken from an IVF embryo before it is transferred. Its use has grown quickly. In the CDC’s latest data, more than half of US embryo transfers involved a tested embryo.^[1] This guide sets out how common PGT is, how it varies by age and clinic, and what to ask.

What PGT is

PGT is a form of genetic testing done on embryos created through IVF.^[4] There are different types. Some test for a specific inherited condition known to run in a family. Others screen embryos for an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploidy), often called PGT-A. Professional guidance distinguishes between these uses and discusses their limitations, including the possibility of inaccurate results and the fact that testing cannot detect every condition.^[3]

The CDC clinic data does not separate PGT types. It reports the share of transfers that included at least one embryo that had PGT.^[1]

How common is PGT?

In 2022, 58.2% of embryo transfers nationally involved at least one embryo that underwent PGT.^[1] Use has grown every year in the last three reporting years:^[1][2]

Year	Transfers with a PGT-tested embryo
2020	48.0%
2021	52.4%
2022	58.2%

PGT use by age

Age group	Transfers with a PGT-tested embryo (2022)
Under 35	53.6%
35–37	63.8%
38–40	65.6%
Over 40	52.9%

PGT use is highest in the 35–40 range.^[1] It is somewhat lower over 40, which may partly reflect that fewer patients in that group have embryos available to test and transfer. The data cannot show the reasons.

How much clinics differ

PGT is one of the practices that varies most between clinics. Among 437 clinics with data, the median clinic used PGT in 58.5% of transfers. The middle half of clinics ranged from 33.2% to 81.0%.^[1] 268 clinics used PGT in at least half of their transfers, while 78 used it in fewer than a quarter.^[1]

Median clinic PGT use by state (states with at least five reporting clinics), highest and lowest:^[1]

State	Median clinic: transfers with PGT	Clinics with data
California	80.6%	79
Nevada	75.7%	6
Arizona	73.9%	10
Washington	72.9%	12
New York	67.0%	43
Connecticut	66.9%	7
…
Illinois	44.2%	19
Maryland	43.0%	5
Wisconsin	34.1%	6
Massachusetts	25.6%	8
Indiana	24.9%	7
Ohio	24.5%	10

You can see any clinic’s PGT share on its FertilityList page, in the “Practice patterns” table, next to the national figure.

PGT and success rates

PGT affects how success rates look. Testing usually means embryos are frozen while results come back, and only embryos that pass are transferred. That can raise a clinic’s per-transfer success rate even if the chance of a baby per started cycle does not change.^[5] This is one reason FertilityList ranks clinics on live births per intended egg retrieval, which counts every cycle from the start. See how to read IVF success rates.

Whether PGT-A improves the overall chance of a live birth, and for whom, is debated in professional guidance.^[3] The CDC data describes how often it is used, not whether it helps any particular patient.

PGT and frozen transfers go together

Testing an embryo usually means taking a biopsy on day 5–7 of development, freezing the embryo, and waiting for the results before a later transfer. So clinics that test most embryos also tend to freeze most embryos. In the national data, both shares rose together over the last three reporting years. Transfers using frozen embryos went from 81.6% in 2020 to 86.9% in 2022.^[1][2] See frozen vs. fresh embryo transfer.

Practical considerations

• Time. Testing usually adds at least one extra cycle, because the transfer happens after results arrive.
• Cost. Biopsy, testing and freezing are usually billed in addition to the IVF cycle. Some insurance plans cover PGT for specific medical reasons but not for routine screening.
• Decisions about embryos. Testing can produce results that are abnormal, mosaic (a mix of normal and abnormal cells) or inconclusive. Ask in advance how the clinic handles each and what choices you will have.
• Counseling. Genetic counseling before and after testing helps people understand what results mean and what they do not.^[4]

Questions to ask a clinic

1. What share of your transfers involve PGT, and is it routine or case by case?
2. Which type of PGT are you suggesting for me, and why?
3. What are the limitations? How often are results inconclusive, and what happens to embryos with unclear results?
4. What does testing cost per embryo or per cycle, including biopsy and freezing?
5. What are your live-birth rates per intended retrieval for my age group, with and without PGT?

A genetic counselor can explain what a specific test can and cannot detect.^[4]

Bottom line

PGT is now used in most US embryo transfers, and its use has grown steadily. It varies widely from one clinic to another.^[1] Because it changes which embryos are transferred, it also changes how per-transfer success rates should be read.

Compare clinics’ practice patterns by state. This guide is general information, not medical advice.