Gene Security Network, Inc (GSN) today announced that Human Reproduction published results validating the exceptional performance of GSN's proprietary Parental SupportTM technology over existing methods to detect chromosome abnormalities during in vitro-fertilization (IVF). Human Reproduction is the flagship journal of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). The study was conducted in partnership with leading IVF clinics in the United States.
This study marks the first time that technology used for Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) has been compared head-to-head with the leading test for chromosome analysis outside of the PGS setting, metaphase karyotyping. GSN's accuracy was shown to be roughly equivalent to metaphase karyotyping, in addition to being superior to existing PGS technologies (98.7% overall accuracy versus published reports of 85-90% accuracy for testing performed using Fluorescent In-Situ hybridization [FISH]). GSN began offering its 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening with Parental Supporttest to IVF clinics in October 2008 and over sixty IVF clinics are now offering the test in the United States and Europe.
"Test accuracy with PGS has historically been a chronic problem due to the inherent difficulties associated with testing the tiny amount of genetic material present in a single cell. GSN overcomes the technical limitations of previous technologies to provide more comprehensive and accurate testing for patients," said Dr. Barry Behr, Co-Director of the REI/IVF Program at Stanford Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center.
"Today's study validates our internal data demonstrating that GSN's Parental Support is the most powerful and accurate tool available today for rapid single cell testing of chromosome abnormalities and genetic diseases," said Matthew Rabinowitz, PhD, CEO of Gene Security Network. "It is our goal to provide the best testing available to IVF clinics to further advance the field and make preimplantation genetic screening broadly available to patients in need worldwide."
The full article, "Preclinical validation of a microarray method for full molecular karyotyping of blastomeres in a 24-h protocol", by Johnson et. al can be accessed at http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/papbyrecent.dtl
About Gene Security Network
Gene Security Network (GSN) is a privately held molecular diagnostics company that develops bioinformatics technologies for complex testing of small quantities of genetic material. GSN's proprietary Parental SupportTM technology is the first to leverage data informatics to deliver highly accurate single cell testing for chromosome abnormalities and genetic diseases. Parental SupportTM uses genetic information from the parents, as well as HapMap data from the Human Genome Project, to clarify the typically noisy measurements from a single cell and to generate an in silico reconstruction of the cell's genotype.
GSN operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in Redwood City, California, providing testing services to guide doctors in selecting embryos during in vitro fertilization. GSN's first service, 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening, allows testing of all 24 chromosomes with results available in time for same-cycle Day 5 transfer. The test is currently available through leading IVF centers in the U.S. For a full listing of partner centers or for more information, please visit www.genesecurity.net.
Contacts:
Gene Security Network
Jennifer Keller, 650-249-9090 ext. 309
jkeller@genesecurity.net
or
Press
and Investor:
Anne Bowdidge, 650-218-6900
