Blood test may predict outcome of IVF treatment
A SIMPLE blood test may in future help women predict their chances of getting pregnant with fertility treatment.
Scientists have discovered genetic markers in the blood that provide a fertility "fingerprint". They showed activity patterns in more than 200 genes that were different in women whose In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment succeeded or failed.
The research is at an early stage, but experts hope an affordable predictive test might be available within a few years.
Study leader Dr Cathy Allen, of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, yesterday said: "There does seem to be a particular signature that goes with early human pregnancy.
"We're talking about a potential to predict IVF success or failure. The work is in its infancy and has to be developed and validated, but we hope it will improve the blunt prognostic procedures we have now."
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Thursday 16 February 2012
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