Complete Embryo Testing and Shipping Cost Guide : What to expect with London Diagnostics Clinic

Planning genetic testing for your embryos, or coordinating the transport of embryos to and from a testing laboratory? Understanding both sides of the cost — testing and transport — is essential for budgeting your fertility journey. This guide breaks down what to expect from both.

Have questions before you read on? Email us any time at contact@londondiagnosticsclinic.com and we'll walk you through your specific route and requirements.

Who Handles What

We work as two connected specialists so you don't have to coordinate them yourself:

• London Diagnostics Clinic (LDC) connects you to a global network of accredited genetic testing laboratories for embryo testing — PGT-A (aneuploidy screening), PGT-M (single-gene disorders), and related pre-implantation genetic testing services.
• Our logistics division manages the transport itself, using dedicated, supervised hand-carry courier service — meaning a trained courier personally accompanies your samples for the entire journey to and from the laboratory, rather than handing them off into general freight.

You deal with one point of contact; we manage the coordination between the clinic, the laboratory, and the courier behind the scenes.

Quick Cost Summary

All figures are indicative ranges. Your exact cost depends on your clinic's fees, the number of embryos tested, and your specific transport route — we'll always confirm a written, itemised quote before anything is booked.

Types of Embryo Genetic Testing, Explained

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) covers a family of tests, each screening for something different. Here's what each one actually checks for, and who it's typically recommended for.

PGT-A — Aneuploidy Screening Checks that each embryo has the correct number of chromosomes (23 pairs). Embryos with too many or too few chromosomes are far less likely to implant, and are a leading cause of early miscarriage. PGT-A doesn't look at specific genes — it's a whole-chromosome count. It's the most commonly requested test, and is often recommended for patients over 35, those with a history of recurrent miscarriage or failed IVF cycles, or anyone who simply wants to prioritise the embryo(s) with the best statistical chance of a successful pregnancy. Usually priced per embryo, on top of a base laboratory fee.

PGT-M — Monogenic (Single-Gene) Disorders Screens for a specific inherited condition already known to run in the family — conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Huntington's disease, among many others. Because every family's mutation is different, the laboratory has to design a custom genetic probe for your specific case before testing can begin. That upfront probe-design work is why PGT-M has a separate setup fee and a longer lead time than PGT-A — it typically needs to be arranged several weeks before your embryo biopsy, not after.

PGT-SR — Structural Rearrangements Used when one or both intended parents carry a known chromosomal rearrangement (such as a translocation or inversion). Unlike PGT-A, which looks at chromosome count, PGT-SR looks specifically at chromosome structure, checking that embryos have inherited a balanced set. This is typically recommended when a parent's own genetic testing has already identified a rearrangement, often after a pattern of recurrent pregnancy loss.

PGT-P — Polygenic Risk Screening A newer, more limited type of testing that estimates statistical risk for conditions influenced by many genes acting together (such as certain heart conditions or some cancers), rather than a single gene or chromosome count. We're transparent with clients that PGT-P is still an emerging technology — its predictive accuracy at the embryo level is debated within the scientific and fertility community, and it isn't offered by every laboratory in our network. We'll only arrange it where a laboratory can speak directly to its own validation data, and we're happy to talk through the current evidence and its limitations before you decide.

Turnaround times vary by laboratory and test type — PGT-A results are typically the fastest, while PGT-M and PGT-SR take longer because of the custom probe work involved. We'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific test before you commit to a transfer date.

What Should Already Be Included in a Transport Quote

No extra fee for:

• Validated cryogenic dry shipper and nitrogen charging
• Temperature monitoring throughout transit
• Courier check-ins at key milestones
• Chain-of-custody documentation
• Standard pickup and delivery coordination with both the clinic and the laboratory
• Our Do Not X-Ray protocol, coordinated directly with security and customs where possible

Legitimate extras:

• Same-day or expedited transport
• After-hours pickup or delivery if a clinic or lab requires it
• International permits, customs brokerage, and certified translations
• Extended storage if the receiving lab or clinic isn't immediately ready

Domestic vs. International Transport

Domestic transport (within the same country) is generally the more affordable option, since it avoids customs clearance, import permits, and cross-border documentation.

International transport adds several line items on top of the courier fee: import/export permits, certified translations, customs brokerage, and origin/receiving facility fees. As a rough guide, courier service itself is typically 35-45% of an international quote, with the remainder made up of the dry shipper, travel expenses, insurance, and permitting costs. Processing time for international routes is usually longer — permit approval is typically the longest single step.

Why Supervised Hand-Carry Costs More Than Standard Freight

For material that took months (or years) of treatment to create, we believe the difference is worth it — but the choice is always yours, and we're happy to talk through what fits your situation and budget.

Worked Example: Domestic Embryo Testing and Transport

Embryo biopsy at originating clinic (billed by clinic) + PGT-A testing for 4 embryos at $350/embryo ($1,400) + domestic supervised hand-carry transport to laboratory and back ($1,600) + documentation and coordination ($300) = ≈$3,300 in testing and transport costs, excluding the clinic's own IVF and biopsy fees.

Worked Example: International Embryo Testing and Transport

PGT-A testing for 5 embryos at $400/embryo ($2,000) + international supervised hand-carry transport ($4,200) + import/export permits ($600) + certified translation and documentation ($350) + customs brokerage ($400) + origin and receiving facility coordination fees ($900) = ≈$8,450 in testing and transport costs, typically over 6-10 weeks depending on the route and permit processing time.

Insurance

Embryos represent years of fertility treatment and genetic material that can't be replaced if something goes wrong in transit. Our transport service includes liability insurance as standard, with enhanced coverage available for an additional fee. We'll confirm the exact coverage level in writing as part of your quote.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

To get started, have ready:

1. Origin clinic name and location
2. Destination laboratory or clinic location
3. Type and number of samples
4. Type of testing required (if applicable)
5. Preferred transfer date

Email us at contact@londondiagnosticsclinic.com with these details and we'll come back to you with a written, itemised quote — testing, transport, and any permits, clearly broken out with nothing hidden.

Ready to Start?

Whether you need embryo testing, transport, or both coordinated together, we're here to help. Email contact@londondiagnosticsclinic.com to request your personalised quote, and we'll take it from there.