HealthInfo Canterbury
Testing for haemophilia before pregnancy
Te whakamātau i te mate toto tepe-kore
If you know you're a carrier of a gene for severe haemophilia and want to avoid passing haemophilia to your sons, you can ask for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
If you have a family history of haemophilia but don't know if you're a carrier, you can ask for carrier testing.
What PGD involves
It's essential that you have counselling to know precisely what will happen and agree to it (this is called informed consent). You'll also need some blood tests before PGD.
When the blood tests are completed, you and your partner will go through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to produce embryos. Each embryo will then be carefully tested to see if it has the haemophilia gene. You and your partner will decide with the fertility specialist which embryos to implant so you can become pregnant.
Access to PGD in Christchurch
PGD for severe haemophilia is available in Christchurch through the co-operation of Canterbury Health Laboratories, Fertility Associates and Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury Haemostasis Service.
You don't have to live in Canterbury to get PGD in Christchurch. Funding for New Zealand residents is available from the Ministry of Health nationally. Anyone can ask for PGD in Christchurch, no matter where they live.
Getting referred for PGD in Christchurch
Phone the Haemostasis Service at Christchurch Hospital on (03) 364‑1246 to discuss the test or talk to your haematologist.
Written by the Haemostasis Service, Christchurch Hospital. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2023.
SourcesReview key: HITHP-25315
