TEST DESCRIPTION

The FERTILYSIS RPL (recurrent pregnancy loss) PANEL is our most comprehensive one yet, combining our two largest and most important unexplained infertility investigation panels, the FERTILYSIS Reproductive Immunology Full and the FERTILYSIS Female Microbiome: Full, at a premium price.

In order to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), including implantation failure, chemical pregnancies and miscarriages, we need to make sure that the uterine environment is optimal for pregnancy in two ways: Firstly, the uterine microbiome needs to be perfectly balanced, dominated by normal flora lactobacilli and free of any pathogenic or potentially pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. Secondly, your immune system must be properly adapted for the accommodation of pregnancy without exhibiting immunological hostility towards the embryo but also to actively facilitate the implantation and placentation process. The goal here, is to prevent loss of healthy, chromosomally normal embryos, following either embryo transfer or natural conception by factors that could have been under our control.

Through the array of tests included in the FERTILYSIS RPL PANEL, we are able to test whether you have any active or chronic sub-clinical infections of the endometrium (endometritis) or any serious imbalance of your microbiome both of which may impair implantation and could lead to recurrent miscarriages, infertility and serious pregnancy complications. Furthermore, this panel offers the most comprehensive Reproductive Immunology testing which allows detection of both idiopathic reasons (Autoimmunity Dysfunction) or risk factors due to “incompatibility between embryo genetics and your immune system (Alloimmunity Dysfunction) associated with reproductive immunopathology, such as recurrent spontaneous abortions, idiopathic infertility, and implantation failures in both natural and assisted reproduction attempts. This panel also includes the HLA-C-KIR mismatch test which allows comparison between the mother’s KIR genotype and paternal HLA-C. A potential mismatch here, can result in very serious repercussions including infertility and recurrent miscarriage, increased risk of pregnancy complications, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth or even unexplained stillbirth. All the potentially detectable problems that this «super-panel» can reveal, each have their own specialized treatments.

For more information and detailed descriptions of the contained tests of the panel, please visit the individual tests’ pages from the “Order Tests” menu.

SPECIMEN TYPE: Peripheral blood, menstrual blood and swabs.

SAMPLE COLLECTION: For collection of blood samples, you should arrange for a healthcare professional to draw the bloods for you according to the instructions, in a licensed medical facility. Self collected menstrual blood and vaginal swab.

SAMPLE STORAGE & SHIPPING: Menstrual blood and vaginal swab samples should be stored in the freezer. Peripheral blood samples should be stored at ambient temperature and away from light. Delivery of samples should be planned between Monday and Thursday but not Friday or during the Weekend. Sample collection and pick-up by courier should take place on the same day. Shipping at ambient temperature for all samples.

RESULT TURNAROUND TIME: Depending on how busy the lab is, we estimate you will get your results in 20 business days from the day your sample reaches us*.

* Please be advised that the turnaround time for specialized diagnostic tests is indicative and not guaranteed and may be extended due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to need for additional clinical evaluation of results, repeat of analysis in cases of unclear or ambiguous results and need for resampling in case of inadequate specimen quality. Therefore, the results will be available in the indicated timeframe as long as there are no additional overheads, as stated above, that may extend turnaround time.