Israel biotechnology company IMT have disclosed details of a barcode tracking system for IVF.
IMT have said that the EmbryoGuard barcode system would be able to trace and identify every component in the IVF process and the procedure would be automatically stopped if a full match was not made.
"The two partners involved are recognized by a specified code and their sperm cells, eggs and fertilized embryos are also identified by the same ID," said IMT's chief scientist, Dr. Amir Arav.
"The system then ensures that sperm can only reach the eggs after it has confirmed that both cells belong to the right patients. Likewise, the grown embryos will be transferred to the patient only after the EmbryoGuard has successfully matched the embryo's ID with the patient's ID."
In a statement from IMT who specializes in freezing human and animal cells it was said that the system would allow embryologists to monitor the embryos online through the installation of microscopic close circuit television cameras, which would be place inside the IVF incubators.
"This online capability will also facilitate clinics in selecting the best embryos and will allow more than one technician or doctor to examine the embryos prior to transferral."
Arav said, "IVF clinics currently transfer two to three embryos to increase the chance of pregnancy. Despite this, the pregnancy rate remains low, typically 20%, and in many cases results in multiple pregnancies.
"EmbryoGuard monitors the embryos throughout every stage of their development and enables the clinics to better identify which embryo is best for transfer. It will also allow them to transfer only one embryo avoiding multiple births."
An IMT spokesperson has been quoted in saying that demonstration units would be installed in the UK during October 2002. The company planned to obtain the European CE mark no later than January 2003 and US FDA approval by April 2003
