BlueGnome Ltd, a specialist developer of microarray based solutions for the screening of chromosomal abnormalities in cytogenetics and IVF, has demonstrated the results of first randomised prospective IVF study of pre-implantation chromosome analysis using their 24sure array platform. This helps in implanting selective euploid embryos, with a normal number of chromosomes, significantly increases pregnancy rates. The study was published in The Journal of Molecular Cytogenetics by Yang et al (Pacific Reproductive Centre,Torrance, USA).
The study blindly randomised 103 IVF cycles. In the treatment group of 55 cycles, 24sure analysis of day 5 biopsies was used to selectively implant a single euploid embryo (as recommended by IVF regulatory bodies such as the HEFA), while in the control group of 48 cycles single embryos were selected using existing morphological scorecard approaches. The ongoing pregnancy rate, after 20 weeks, per cycle started was 69.1 per cent in the 24sure treatment group vs 41.7 per cent in the control group. This extremely promising result provides direct evidence that 24sure analysis can deliver a 65 per cent increase in pregnancy rates, even in younger patients with more favourable IVF outcomes. Further randomised studies are needed and are underway.
“This study provides crucial evidence that 24 chromosome aneuploidy screening, using 24sure, can offer a dramatic benefit to IVF success rates. While further studies are still needed, this result is incredibly exciting because it indicates for the first time that 24 chromosome screening and single embryo transfer has the potential to become the default standard of care for all IVF cycles worldwide,” said Nick Haan, CEO, BlueGnome Ltd.