First Baby Conceived Via New IVF Embryo Screening Technique Born Healthy

Scientists have found a new genome sequencing technique that promises a stable pregnancy and successful birth outcomes among couple who seek in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF).

Researchers at the University of Oxford announced Monday, the birth of a healthy baby boy conceived via the new and cheap genome screening technique known as "next-generation sequencing (NGS)". The method helps select the best embryo and avoid the ones that carries the wrong number of chromosomes.

IVF is an artificial method known as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) adopted by people who experience difficulties conceiving naturally. It is the process of manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory.

An embryo contains 46 chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormality or aneuploidy occurs when an embryo contains the wrong number of chromosomes. According to IVF experts, chromosomal abnormalities in embryo play an important role in an IVF treatment's failure or miscarriage. The traditional microscope cannot identify these defects and the different types of chromosome screening methods available are highly expensive.

"Many of the embryos produced during infertility treatments have no chance of becoming a baby because they carry lethal genetic abnormalities," Dr Dagan Wells, who led the study, said in a news release. "Next-generation sequencing improves our ability to detect these abnormalities and helps us identify the embryos with the best chances of producing a viable pregnancy. Potentially, this should lead to improved IVF success rates and a lower risk of miscarriage."

To test accuracy of the new technique, scientists conducted experiments on cells from 45 embryos with previously detected abnormalities.

As a second step, they conducted experiments on seven embryos that had reached the form of blastocysts (from a single cell on the first day to a form containing 70 to 100 cells the fifth day). The embryos were collected from two couples, who had opted for IVF treatment.

Through the NGS technique, three blastocysts were qualified for IVF treatment for the first couple and two for the second couple which subsequently resulted in successful pregnancies and the recent birth.

American couple David Levy and Marybeth Scheidts from Philadelphia welcomed their baby boy Connor levy last month, who was conceived via the breakthrough technology. The second baby conceived via the new genome sequencing technique, is due in a couple of months.

The new technique is expected to cut the huge expenses needed for embryo screening, Dr Wells of Oxford University, said in a statement. 

"Results from randomised clinical trials carried out during the last year have suggested that most IVF patients would benefit from embryo chromosome screening. However, the costs of these genetic tests are relatively high, putting them beyond the reach of many patients. Next-generation sequencing could make chromosome testing more widely available, improving access by cutting the costs," Dr Wells, explained.

The findings will be presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's annual meeting in London, Monday, July 8.