US start-up launches test to detect genetic errors before IVF pregnancy begins

The test, the company argues says, will help couples identify whether their embryos present genetic risks such as birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, or paediatric and adult-onset cancers that were previously only detectable after birth.

According to Orchid, the technology sequences more than 99 per cent of an embryo’s genome, while existing tests typically read around 25 per cent.

“This is a major advance in the amount of information parents can have,” Noor Siddiqui, Orchid’s founder and CEO, told CNBC.

“The way that you can use that information is really up to you, but it gives a lot more control and confidence into a process that, for all of history, has just been totally left to chance.”

IVF is often a challenging and intense experience for patients. A single IVF cycle in the US – defined as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer – can range from US$15,000 to US$30,000, depending on the clinic and the patient’s individual needs.

Orchid’s genetic test will cost couples an additional US$2,500 per embryo sequenced, but, according to Siddiqui, it will not add any new steps or risks to the IVF process.

“The cost of the report should come down as we scale up our operations and introduce more automation,” she explained. “We want to make this something that’s accessible to everyone.”

From this week, Orchid’s technology will be available at IVF clinics in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Austin. The technology could be made available at additional clinics at the request of patients.

Couples will receive their report back from Orchid after about three weeks, the company said, and a genetic counsellor will be able to help them understand the results.

Orchid has raised US$12m in funding from investors, including Prometheus Fund and Refactor Capital. The San Francisco-based start-up aims to scale up its technology and make it more accessible to more people.

“We have spent an enormous amount of effort identifying the mutations that will cause severe disease during pregnancy or early childhood or result in serious chronic conditions,” said Siddiqui.

“This has the potential to totally redefine reproduction and I just think it’s really exciting to be able to make people more confident about one of the most important decisions of their life and to give them a little bit more control.”