GUWAHATI, Feb 26 - In a breakthrough in the field of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF, or test tube baby), and giving a hope to many couples suffering from childlessness, Guwahati-based Institute of Human Reproduction (IHR) has successfully undertaken a latest method in IVF to deliver a healthy baby.
IHR utilised the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology for the first time in North East India to successfully fertilize, impregnate and deliver a healthy baby on October 13, 2016. Now at four months after delivery, the baby boy is doing well and has achieved normal milestone.
�We are happy and proud to inform about the successful milestone we achieved through the process. This is a remarkable achievement for the team of IHR. With the development of NGS, identification of implantable embryos continues to improve. This technology is useful for couples with repeated IVF failures, couples of advanced age, couples with repeated abortions or with inherited chromosomal rearrangements such as Robertsonian or reciprocal translocation,� said Dr Deepak Goenka, gynaecologist and infertility specialist and director, IHR, said.
NGS is an emerging technology which provides an unprecedented data for genetic analysis. With the help of this technique, a highly accurate detection of chromosomally abnormal embryos can be achieved.
�HR is one of the pioneer hospitals in the world that uses this technology, which provides an outstanding accuracy. The newer technique � NGS � screens for all 23 pairs of chromosomes for aneuploidies. It provides a higher accuracy and sensitivity compared to other platforms. Using NGS, more detailed genetic information can be obtained through the genome sequencing of embryos. The use of this technique is cost-efficient. The sensitivity and specificity of this test is 99 per cent,� Dr Goenka said.