The University of Geneva is offering this technology for licensing. This diagnostic assay is a reliable method to assay for extrauterine pregnancy.
Development Phase :
Prototype
Keywords :
diagnostic, detection, elisa, measurement , ObGyn , abnormal pregnancy
Benefits : Contact : e-mail: alexandra.richardson@unige.ch
Can be easily implemented in existing diagnostic kits
¨ The new factor and progesterone are independent parameters, thus allowing for a more reliable diagnosis.
¨ Knowledge of precise date of the start of pregnancy is not required, since the circulating levels of the factor and progesterone do not change between the 7th and 10th week of pregnancy
Dr. Alexandra Richardson
tel: +41-22-705-7258
fax: +41-22-329-4290
Unitec
Office of Technology Transfer
University of Geneva
24 rue du General Dufour
Ch-1211 Geneva 4/Switzerland
ASSAY TO DIAGNOSE EXTRAUTERINE PREGNANCY BY USING A NEW FACTOR
There is no uniformly accepted protocol for the diagnosis of extrauterine pregnancy (EUP). EUP occurs when a pregnancy implants outside the uterus, and thus results in the termination of pregnancy in human females. Traditionally, levels of progesterone and human chronic gonadotropin (hCG) values are measured, since a drop in their levels is correlated with abnormal pregnancy. However, this existing diagnostic kit, in combination with sonographic assessment of the pregnancy is not error-free.
The reliability of correctly detecting an abnormal pregnancy is greatly increased by incorporating different and independent parameters in the diagnostic assay. We propose a new factor that is independent of progesterone and hCG. Like with hCG and progesterone, levels of this factor are reduced in abnormal pregnancies, and thus provides an additional marker that can be used in combination with existing kits as a diagnostic tool.
Potential Commercial Uses :
¨ Any situation requiring the confirmation of normal vs. abnormal pregnancy status in pregnant human females at an early stage of the pregnancy.
¨ This additional parameter could easily be added to already existing kits.
This screening assay utilizes blood, plasma or serum samples from the pregnant female, and is rapidly performed.