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Blood test may predict effectiveness of IVF

Updated: 2009-07-02 22:05:38 CST Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

by Francis Ma

A new test may help determine which patients are responsive to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and which are not, according to a presentation at the 25th annual conference of the the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Dr Cathy Allen of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and her team examined the gene expression patterns in RNA extracted from simple blood samples taken at eight different stages during the period around conception and the early stages of the IVF cycle. Instead of looking at a single gene, as had been done before, they looked at wide-ranging gene patterns and found distinct differences between those who went on to achieve pregnancy and those who did not.

"Over 200 genes were differentially expressed in patients who went on to achieve an IVF pregnancy compared with those who did not," Allen said.

The researchers found that the gene expression 'signature' seen in the fertility test before IVF predicted the outcome of the IVF procedure. The researchers hope this finding will lead to a simple blood test to determine the likely effectiveness of IVF for a given patient.

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