Improving IVF treatment
Human in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment generally has low success rates and a high rate of multiple births, which can lead to premature, ill and disabled babies. Scientists led by Professor Henry J Leese (University of York), have developed a test that addresses these problems. Their simple non-invasive test, which measures embryonic amino-acid levels, can predict which embryos will most successfully implant in the womb. This discovery has the potential to limit multiple births, increase success rates, reduce costs to the couple and minimise the side-effects of IVF treatment in women. A spinout company Cellutions Ltd has been set up to commercialise the work, and will run trials to establish the value of the technique in routine IVF.
Human reproduction 2002; 17: 999-1005