(Yicai Global) Sept. 12 -- Reproductive technology firm Suzhou Basecare Medical Device Co. has raised USD15.3 million (CNY100 million) via B-round financing, but it did not disclose any information about the identity of the investors, 36kr.com reported yesterday, citing a company statement.

A subsidiary of Da An Gene Co. [SHE:002030] that is affiliated to the Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-Sen University, Basecare has two core businesses: development of high throughput sequencing technologies for assisted reproduction, and designing clinical laboratory solutions customized to the testing needs of its clients (mostly medical institutions) and providing them with one-stop services.

On the back of successful development of next generation sequencing (NGS) and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) products, the firm formally kicked off third-generation test-tube baby technology, alternatively known as pre-implementation genetic diagnosis (PGD), research last year, and succeeded in developing a pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) product, the first third-generation test-tube baby PGS product that has passed the 'innovative medical equipment special review' by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration. The review represents the highest international PGS certification standard. The product has not been released yet.

The PGD technology market has huge potential. The 'third-generation test-tube baby era' will start in China soon, and the PGD testing market will be worth USD2.45 billion, assuming that there will be around 800,000 reproductive cycles every year, Basecare stated.

Pre-implementation genetic diagnosis is a process where genetic materials from an embryo are analyzed before an embryo transfer to detect abnormalities. The purpose of the procedure is to prevent genetic disease transmission.

The company also offers PGD-related clinical lab services that encompass lab construction, embryo biopsy and genetic counseling. Many medical institutions have benefited from its comprehensive clinical solutions characterized by preventing testing and screening at three levels -- pregnancy, prenatal and neonatal testing.