title: An economic assessment of embryo diagnostics (Dx) - the costs of introducing non-invasive embryo diagnostics into IVF standard treatment practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New techniques in assessing oocytes and embryo quality are currently explored to improve pregnancy and delivery rates per embryo transfer. While a better understanding of embryo quality could help optimize the existing "in vitro fertilization" (IVF) therapy schemes, it is essential to address the economic viability of such technologies in the healthcare setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Embryo-Dx economic model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of 3 different IVF strategies from a payer's perspective; it compares Embryo-Dx with single embryo transfer (SET) to elective single embryo transfer (eSET) and to double embryo transfer (DET) treatment practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The introduction of a new non-invasive embryo technology (Embryo-Dx) associated with a cost up to €460 is cost-effective compared to eSET and DET based on the cost per live birth. The model assumed that Embryo-Dx will improve ongoing pregnancy rate/realize an absolute improvement in live births of 9% in this case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that improved embryo diagnosis combined with SET may have the potential to reduce the cost per live birth per couple treated in IVF treatment practices. The results of this study are likely more sensitive to changes in the ongoing pregnancy rate and consequently the live birth rate than the diagnosis costs. The introduction of a validated Embryo-Dx technology will further support a move towards increased eSET procedures in IVF clinical practice and vice versa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics, University of Groningen, 9713 Groningen, The Netherlands. fugelhj@web.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Joerg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fugel
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nuijten
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000191:economics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D009426:Netherlands; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D019836:Preimplantation Diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control