Cytogenetic testing looks for changes in chromosomes that may help explain why a pregnancy loss occurred. This page explains who qualifies, how to collect pregnancy tissue at home, and where to bring the specimen.
Cytogenetic testing is currently offered only to people who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as:
- Two or more pregnancy losses in the first trimester
Testing may be done when an early pregnancy loss occurs:
- Naturally (spontaneous early pregnancy loss), or
- After medical or surgical management
Your health care provider will confirm whether this testing is appropriate for you and complete the required forms:
If you are asked to collect tissue at home, the following may help:
- Use the container provided to you or a clean container, such as a new Ziploc bag or a clean plastic container (e.g. Tupperware)
- Try to collect as much tissue as possible. You may find it helpful to use gloves or a sieve or strainer.
- If some tissue falls into the toilet, it is okay to carefully remove it and place it into the container.
- Keep the container in the refrigerator.
- Add additional tissue as it passes.
- Continue collecting until you feel you have passed all the tissue.
- Do not freeze the specimen.
Entrance #97
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Entrance #11, 2nd Floor
Open Monday to Friday, 7a.m. to 6p.m.
For current EPAC patients only.
Entrance #77
Open Monday to Friday, 9a.m. to 3 p.m.
