Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for the Kell genotype.

Objective: To use preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to achieve a Kell 1 (K1) allele-free pregnancy in couples at risk for producing a child with hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) caused by maternofetal incompatibility in sensitized mothers.

Design: DNA analysis of biopsied blastomeres from cleavage-stage embryos in IVF-ET with the goal of identifying and transferring back to patients the K1 allele-free embryos.

Setting: IVF program at the Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago, Illinois, and IVF Michigan, Rochester Hills, Michigan.