Selecting Embryos

Doctors who perform in vitro fertilization typically rely on a visual assessment of the embryos when deciding which ones to transfer into the uterus, but two-thirds of such embryos fail to implant. A new test analyzes the proteins and small-molecule metabolites in the fluid surrounding each embryo and compares the resulting metabolic profile with that of a healthy embryo. The test improves implantation rates up to 30 percent. That means doctors can transfer fewer embryos, reducing the chances of an undesired multiple pregnancy.

Courtesy of Molecular Biometrics