The World Egg Bank Now Offers the Most Advanced Genetic Testing Available in the Reproductive Health Community

We can now prevent the diseases that
we are not able to cure

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The World Egg Bank Inc. has announced the first testing of banked egg
donors and recipients to reduce the incidence of having a child with a
genetic disease. The World Egg Bank has partnered with Igenomix to offer
clients the Carrier
Genetic Test (CGT), an advanced testing method that uses cutting
edge technology that can rapidly identify 6000 mutations in over 600
genes. These genetic diseases cause about 20% of infant deaths in
developed countries and 10% of the hospitalizations of young children.
Our donor eggs are shipped to Australia, Canada, the UK, across the U.S.
and around the world.

Next-generation DNA sequencing provides a highly accurate analysis of
the parents’ DNA and uses multiple reads that result in higher mutation
detection rates and fewer missed carriers over older, traditional
technology. This test will help ensure that couples using egg donation
are matched with a donor that does not carry the same gene mutations as
the father which could result in a child affected with one of over 600
genetic disorders such as Gaucher’s disease, cystic fibrosis and
muscular spinal atrophy. It also detects X-linked disease mutations that
are present in about 2% of women.

“Patients want to reduce as much as possible the probability of having a
child born with a genetic disease and this technology provides that,”
says Dr. Kimball O. Pomeroy, Scientific Director for the World Egg Bank.

Statistics show there is approximately a 1 in 100 chance that a newborn
will have a genetic disease if there is no testing/matching. These odds
are reduced to approximately a 1 in 100,000 chance that a genetically
matched newborn will have a genetic disease. With the CGT, The World Egg
Bank’s patients can make crucial steps to prevent reproducing children
with genetic diseases before becoming pregnant.

“It is a great honor to be the first in the U.S. to offer intended
parents a way to help prevent birth defects and disease,” says Diana
Thomas, Founder and CEO of The World Egg Bank.

The World Egg Bank will be at the Fertility Society of Australia’s
annual conference in Canberra September 13 – 16, the annual meeting of
the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in Baltimore on October 17
– 21 and the Fertility Show in London, UK, November 7. Come by the booth
to speak with our team about the Carrier Genetic Test and figure out how
it can change the world one egg at a time.

About The World Egg Bank

The World Egg Bank, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Phoenix,
Arizona, is the world’s first frozen egg bank, serving the reproductive
health community. The World Egg Bank works with clinics worldwide to
provide frozen eggs to infertile women and couples. For more information
visit www.TheWorldEggBank.com.

About Igenomix

Igenomix has broad experience in genetic and molecular diagnosis and is
one of the world’s leaders in these techniques, with affiliates and labs
in Brazil, USA, Spain, United Arab Emirates and India. Igenomix’s
efforts in R&D enable the company to create and develop specific
proprietary tools to support professionals in the reproductive medicine
field. For more information, visit www.igenomix.com.

Contacts

The World Egg Bank
Dr. Kimball Pomeroy, PhD, (602) 678-1906
Kim@TheWorldEggBank.com