Assay to indicate the presence of non-fertilizable ova
AssigneeMedi-Cult A/S
InventorsSvend Lindenberg, Anne Lis Mikkelsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an assay for at least one predictive marker in a sample from a mammal wherein a specific reaction for at least one predictive marker indicates when non-fertilizable ova capable of in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) are present in the mammal. This is particularly useful in the determination of when non-fertilizable ova, if aspirated, after in vitro maturation to MF-II will be capable of fertilization and pregnancy after implantation into the female mammal. The assay is based on a sample selected from the group consisting of body secrete, sputum, blood, urine, uterus secretes and cells.
Claims19
A method of assaying for the presence or quantity of a substance in a sample from a mammal to determine whether non-fertilizable prophase ova capable of in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization are present in the mammal and to select said ova for in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization, the method comprising:
- obtaining a sample from a female mammal at various times during the menstrual cycle;
- testing the sample to determine the presence and relative concentration of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a hormone, a small peptide hormone, a peptide hormone, a lipid, a nucleic acid, an intra- or intercellular messenger, and an enzyme;
- correlating the relative concentration of at least one substance with a reference level to determine if non-fertilizable prophase ova capable of in vitro maturation and fertilization are present;
- and
- subsequently retrieving ova from said mammal.
A method for determining the timing of when non-fertilizable ova capable of in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization are present in a mammal and retrieving said ova for in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization, the method comprising:
- obtaining a sample from a female mammal;
- contacting the sample with at least one appropriate reagent for determining the presence and level of at least one marker substance selected from the group consisting of a hormone, a small peptide hormone, a peptide hormone, a lipid, a nucleic acid, an intra- or intercellular messenger, and an enzyme;
- detecting the presence and level of the at least one marker substance,
- correlating the level of said at least one marker substance with a reference level to determine if non-fertilizable prophase ova capable of in vitro maturation and fertilization are present;
- and
- subsequently retrieving ova from said mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.