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04 August 2004

Dear Colleague

New Guidance on Preimplantation Tissue Typing

As you may be aware, at its meeting of July 21, the HFEA decided to produce new guidance on the selection of embryos to provide a tissue match for an existing, seriously-ill child.   The new guidance is enclosed. 

This guidance is consistent with the existing guidance on preimplantation testing set out in Part 14 of the HFEA Code of Practice and is presented in this context.  Preimplantation tissue typing is expected to be used only where there is an existing child affected by a serious or life-threatening condition and where all other possible treatments have been explored and discounted.  Furthermore, applications will continue to be considered by the HFEA on a case-by-case basis.  However, the new guidance differs from the policy position established in November 2001 (and expressed through eight criteria - see Media release) in the following principal respects:

• the new guidance recognises that preimplantation tissue typing may be acceptable in cases in which the embryo to be tested is not itself at risk from the condition affecting the existing child;
• depending on the indications for the existing child, it may be acceptable to use preimplantation tissue typing with a view to using bone marrow from the resulting child;
• detailed guidance relating to clinical decision making and patient information is included.

The HFEA intends to produce a report giving further information about its decision, including a digest of the findings of research conducted and a summary of its reasoning, by the end of August.  This will be posted on ?HFEA Policy' section of the HFEA website.  If you have any questions or require further information in the mean time please contact Peter Mills, HFEA Policy Development and Co-ordination Manager, on 020 7291 8234 or email peter.mills@hfea.gov.uk. 

Yours sincerely,

Professor Tom Baldwin
Deputy Chair, HFEA

encs.

Revised pre-implantation testing guidance
August 4, 2004 download (86.00 Kb)

Page last updated: 17 August 2012

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