Frequently asked questions

The UTIMPROtest is an in vitro diagnostic medical device manufactured by MatriceLab that determines the uterine immune profile and allows for a significant increase in expected birth rates following the application of therapeutic recommendations, at the first embryo transfer following the test. (29.7% vs. 41.4%; OR: 1.68 [1.04-2.73], p=0.036; Lédée et al; Frontiers 2025). 

The test provides information on the presence and activity of immune cells necessary for future embryo implantation, documenting whether the condition of the endometrium is favorable to implantation. We assess whether the endometrium is ready for adhesion and whether the immunological response required for implantation is appropriate to allow invasion without rejection, thereby helping to understand the mechanisms underlying implantation failures, whether due to a deficiency or, conversely, locally excessive immunological activity.The UTIMPROtest can be performed as an initial assessment but also as an assessment under therapuetics recommendations (see “And after?”)

This test is specifically aimed at:

• Embryo implantation failures (no implantation despite the transfer of several good quality embryos) with their own oocytes or from donations;
• Recurrent miscarriages (more than 3 miscarriages).

The UTIMPROtest requires an endometrial biopsy performed by your gynecologist with the sampling kit provided by MATRICELAB INNOVE. It must be carried out precisely in the middle of the implantation window (this is the moment when the embryo can attach to the endometrium)during a cycle with no embryo transfer, attempted pregnancy, or intrauterine procedure(biopsy, operative hysteroscopy …) during the luteal phase of either the previous cycle or of the biopsy cycle (except for diagnostic hysteroscopy in the proliferative phase without biopsy) and no use of anti-inflammatory drugs or any other treatment (except for background/ maintenance treatment for a chronic or genetic condition).

You can discuss this with your gynecologist. If they agree to support you, they simply need to contact us to obtain the kit. If your gynecologist does not wish to perform this examination, we can refer you to other gynecologists near you with whom we work. In this case, simply contact us by email, specifying your region, and we will send you the relevant list. We do not perform biopsies in our laboratory.

Requests for equipment can only be made by your gynecologist or their secretary, either by email or through our website. Please include your full postal address (floor, department, etc.) and a telephone number. The equipment, along with all necessary documents for the biopsy, is sent out every Wednesday (last request processed by Tuesday at 5 PM).

This procedure involves a biopsy of the endometrial lining. Using a Cornier pipelle (not included in the kit), the gynecologist will aspirate a sample of your endometrium and place it in a tube of RNAlater (provided by MatriceLab). This very quick procedure may be painful at the time. We therefore encourage you to discuss this with your doctor beforehand.

The biopsy must be performed precisely in the middle of the implantation window. We recommend performing the biopsy during a mock cycle one week after introducing progesterone, regardless of your cycle regularity, in order to have better control of the cycle phase at the time of the biopsy and better reliability of the results. This does not necessarily mean that your next transfer will be on a substituted cycle.

In the case of biopsy during a natural cycle or under stimulation, please contact us if your period starts less than 4 days after the biopsy.

If the biopsy was not performed according to the recommendations defined above, the analysis cannot be carried out (see section “My biopsy could not be analyzed, what should I do?”). This is why we strongly recommend performing the biopsy during a substituted cycle, as nearly 3% of biopsies performed during a natural cycle cannot be analyzed because the biopsy was not taken midway through the implantation window*, forcing patients to repeat the biopsy. *Real-life data internal to MatriceLab INNOVE

At the end of the consultation, the doctor will give you the envelope, to be stamped at the current rate and send to the address indicated above (make sure it is up to date). It is not possible to drop off a sample at the laboratory, as access is restricted to staff and carriers. The shipment must be made via the postal service or a specialized carriers (for patients with cured hepatitis B). The shipment should be made the same day if possible, and, if outside Metropolitan France, should ideally reach us within 48 hours (expect to use expedited shipping). The shipping day must be a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (excluding French public holidays). Outside of these days, please store at 4°C.  Do not send by registered mail with signature confirmation or by courier requiring a signature. In case of a heatwave, you can put a cooling pack on it (do not freeze).

The “MatriceLAB Innove” envelope must contain:

• The box containing the sachet with the biopsy tube (labeled with your name, surname and date of birth)
• The completed “information sheet” for MatriceLAB Innove 
• The prescription with the consent form signed by you and your doctor
• A copy of the HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C serology results, less than one year old on the day of the biopsy, signed by the medical biologist

You will find the current price list below :

The provisional invoice (along with our bank details) will be sent to you by email approximately 2 to 3 weeks after we receive your biopsy. You can pay in installments by bank transfer or check; please contact us upon receipt of the invoice to arrange this. The paid invoice will be sent to you along with your results so you can claim reimbursement from your health insurance provider.

You will receive your results by mail within 3 weeks from the date we receive the biopsy with the complete file, provided that payment has been made in the meantime.This timeframe is extended during the Christmas and Easter holidays and in August (see the Contact section for details). A copy of this report, along with any treatment recommendations, will be sent to your doctor. We advise you to contact them for interpretation of the results and implementation of the proposed treatment strategies.

Depending on the results of the initial assessment, it may be relevant to conduct an assessment under therapuetics recommendations in order to verify the effectiveness of the therapeutic recommendations. This follow-up biopsy should be performed between 2 and 6 months after the first one, before embryo transfer, or in the event of a failed pregnancy after transfer. If a miscarriage or pregnancy termination occurs after the initial assessment, we recommend repeating the initial assessment while the patient is still undergoing treatment.

The next IVF attempt can be considered between 2 months (including the time it takes to receive the results and, in some cases, the treatments that need to be carried out before IVF) and 6 months after the biopsy. The uterine immune status is likely to vary throughout life and can be influenced by many factors. The current uterine immune profile is therefore valid for the next 6 months in the absence of uterine intervention or pregnancy. Beyond that, it will need to be updated to guide the personalization of attempts.

In the unlikely event that the biopsy cannot be analyzed (<5% of cases)*, this analysis will not be charged. You will need to schedule another appointment with your doctor to have a new biopsy performed, allowing a full menstrual cycle to pass.The limits and recommendations are stipulated in the documents sent to the doctor.Performing a biopsy (like any intrauterine procedure or operative hysteroscopy) in the luteal phase leads to changes in the immune environment during the following cycle.When a second biopsy is performed one month after the first, the analyzed results reflect the effect of the previous month’s biopsy, which may lead to an error in the suggested treatment plan. *Real-life data internal to MatriceLab INNOVE

In the event that you have been prescribed several tests involving a biopsy, we recommend carrying out these tests beforehand and then letting a full cycle pass before performing the biopsy for the UTIMPROtest. Performing a biopsy (like any intrauterine procedure or operative hysteroscopy) in the luteal phase leads to changes in the immune environment during the following cycle. When a second biopsy is performed one month after the first, the analyzed results reflect the effect of the previous month’s biopsy, which may lead to errors in the suggested treatment plan.