Tagging Embryos
After yesterday's mix-up at a fertility department in a British hospital,
the UK and other fertility clinics are said to be electronically tagging
embryo with hopes of preventing such mistakes. Physicians used the wrong
sperm to fertilize an embryo, and on the wake of many other
In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) controversies this has caused serious stir yet again
about regulating fertility treatments more stringently.
The article from the UK Standard said, "The electronic tagging system
commissioned by Guy's uses radio frequency to track sperm samples and eggs
through the fertilisation process to ensure mothers do not get impregnated
with the wrong embryo. A chip is attached to the bottom of every Petri dish
and test tube which contain the patient's sample. The doctor passes the
container over a scanner in the laboratory before fertility treatment takes
place. A computer next to the scanner acts as an early warning system by
flashing a "stop" message on screen if the tag's details do not match those
of the patient. The tag also sets off an alarm if samples from different
parents are brought into the same area in the laboratory"
Many US officials now think that we should start having fertility clinics
and experts tagging embryos to avoid any mix-ups or mistakes.
Posted by Tala on 4/30/2009 3:09:12 PM
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