Our Technology
Juniper PGT.
Screening with science.
Juniper PGT empowers confident, ethical choices about embryo implantation, guided by rigorous science. Our testing begins with chromosome insight with PGT-A and opens the door to full-genome analysis with PGT-G.
The IVF journey: A new path forward
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) has made important strides, yet one fact remains: nearly 45% of embryos considered 'chromosomally normal' still don’t result in live birth – a rate that has stayed the same for years. 1 , 2
That’s why we created a two-step pathway, starting with PGT-A for chromosome insight and progressing to PGT-G for whole-genome clarity when you’re ready to move forward with embryo transfer.
The Role of Genetics
When a transfer doesn’t succeed, it’s natural to wonder, “Why did this happen?” or “Could I have done something differently?” But the truth is, it’s not the parents’ fault. We know from studying pregnancy loss that at least 85% of pregnancy losses are due to the genetics of the embryo itself. 3
Juniper helps clinicians and patients look beyond chromosome counts to truly understand the genetics factors behind each embryo. PGT-G turns that knowledge into guidance, helping families make decisions based on their unique biology, not statistics.
PGT-G: Next-gen embryo testing
PGT-G builds on the foundation of PGT-A. While chromosome screening identifies embryos with the correct number of chromosomes, PGT-G reads nearly the entire genetic code to uncover variants that can influence embryo development, pregnancy success, and genetic disease.
By combining whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing together with parent genomes, Juniper delivers a more complete picture of each embryo’s potential, giving patients and clinicians the data they need to guide confident decisions.
How It Works
Juniper PGT sequences 99% of the 3 billion base pairs in each embryo’s genome, reaching clinical-grade accuracy for variant detection and reducing confusion over mosaic or complex results.
We also integrate data from both biological parents of the embryo (trio sequencing) and data from the embryo’s transcriptome (RNA) as well as its genome (DNA).
Our technology identifies the key information needed for IVF success, providing clear answers when it matters most. In our validation study, six out of seven embryo sets included at least one embryo with no detectable risk of pregnancy loss or genetic disease, giving parents a confident choice for their first transfer.
For aspiring parents, that means the path to pregnancy just got clearer, faster, and more affordable.
Our screening methodology
Juniper’s embryo screening examines the entire genome and transcriptome of each embryo, including parental genetics, to identify inherited and “de novo” variants. De novo variants, which appear for the first time in embryos, significantly contribute to embryo risk. We analyze around 20,000 genes, focusing on genetic changes that may prevent implantation or development in the womb.
Our comprehensive approach includes coding and non-coding regions, utilizing leading clinical annotation databases to annotate changes. We also use population, molecular, and evolutionary genetics criteria to help classify potentially lethal changes that by definition are not found in clinical databases.
Despite our thorough methods, limitations do exist — parental sequencing covers about 99% of the genome, and some embryo regions may be insufficiently covered.
More importantly, the scientific understanding of implantation failure, pregnancy loss, and disease is not complete and new information is emerging constantly. Also, some causes of implantation failure, pregnancy loss, and disease remain unknown or are genuinely unrelated to genetics. While we strive to maximize success, we cannot guarantee a successful pregnancy or a healthy child.
1: SART National Database at https://sartcorsonline.com/Csr/Public?ClinicPKID=0&reportingYear=2016&newReport=True (PGT data using PGT only filter and reviewing per-transfer outcomes in the pregnancy outcomes drop-down as a weighted average across age ranges from the first embryo transfer, which is presumably the highest morphological score and most likely to be a euploid PGT-A finding.)
2: Gen in Med 2021; 23: 435-442. doi: 10.1038/s41436-020-01008-6; Fertil Steril. 2016 May;105(5):1307-1313. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.01.025
3: Zhao, C., Chai, H., Zhou, Q., et al. (2021) Genetics in Medicine, 23, 435-442. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-020-01008-6 ; Byrne, A.B., Arts, P., Ha, T.T. et al. Nat Med 29, 180–189 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02142-1 ; Cytogenet Genome Res. 2017;152(2):81-89. doi: 10.1159/000477707; Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2000 Oct;14(5):855-65. doi: 10.1053/beog.2000.0124. Am J Hum Genet. 2021 Dec 2;108(12):2238-2247. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.11.002