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.

Product: ViaMetrics-E
Cost: $30,000 to $50,000 for the testing system in the U.S. market. (Tests will not add appreciably to the typical cost of $12,000 to $15,000 for an IVF treatment.)
Availability: Now in the U.K., Australia, Japan, Ireland, and Greece; seeking FDA approval in the U.S.
Source: www.molecularbiometrics.com
Companies: Molecular Biometrics