MicroSort® is a new scientific method of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis designed to increase the chances of a couple having a child of a desired gender. MicroSort® is used before conception to separate sperm into sperm containing female (X) or male (Y) chromosones (X-bearing sperm). Sperm containing the required gender chromosones can be inserted into the uterus using IUI or used in IVF treatment cycles. Many couples not affected by infertility use MicroSort® to balance the gender of their family or to prevent a genetic disease that affects only one sex from being inherited. Couples wishing to use MicroSort® to balance the genders of their family must be married, have at least one child and want to use gender selection to help them conceive the lesser represented gender of children. (Eg. Parents of four girls could use MicroSort® to help them conceive a boy.) Inherited genetic diseases can be linked to gender. MicroSort® can help prevent a child inheriting a sex-linked disease.
MicroSort® is a pre-conception gender selection technology. MicroSort® does not involve the creation of embryos for testing and selection. The MicroSort® process simply sorts sperm according to sex before the fertilization process. Sperm determine the sex of the child. X-bearing sperm produce girls and Y-bearing sperm produce boys. Without MicroSort®, sperm samples are close to 50% X-bearing and 50% Y-bearing. Depending upon the needs of the family, MicroSort® technology can either produce a high percentage of X-bearing sperm (girls) or a high percentage of Y-bearing sperm (boys). The separation of sperm by gender requires cell sorting based upon a difference in the quantity of genetic material between X-bearing and Y-bearing sperm. Fluorescent dyes and ultraviolet lasers allow the cell sorting machine to identify X-bearing or Y-bearing sperm.

