Florida couple Tiffany Score and Steven Mills, who discovered their baby born through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was not genetically related to them, have now successfully identified their daughter's biological parents. This significant development marks a pivotal moment in what the couple described as a 'heartbreaking journey'. In a statement released on April 22, the couple confirmed that genetic testing provided the long-awaited answers, stating, 'The results of testing delivered to us today confirm that our baby's genetic parents have been identified.'

Score and Mills have committed to keeping the biological parents' identities confidential, expressing their full intention to 'cooperate in respecting their privacy'. While this resolves one major concern, it has also raised new issues. 'This ends one chapter… but it raises new issues that will have to be resolved,' they noted, particularly concerning the 'disposition of our own embryos' which remain unanswered.

Their daughter, Shea, is now four months old, having been born on December 11, 2025. The couple's concerns arose after Shea's birth when she did not genetically resemble either parent, both of whom are white, prompting them to undertake genetic testing which confirmed she was not biologically theirs. Despite the emotional turmoil, they affirmed their unwavering love, stating, 'Only one thing is as absolutely certain today as it was on the day our daughter was born - we will love and will be this child's parents forever.'

The couple had filed a lawsuit against their IVF clinic, the Fertility Centre of Orlando, prior to their identities becoming public. According to legal documents, Score underwent treatment at the clinic where three viable embryos were created and stored. She was implanted with what she believed was one of her own embryos in April. The couple emphasized their 'moral obligation' to find Shea's genetic parents and have been deeply concerned by the possibility that one of their own embryos might have been implanted into another family.

Their lawyer indicated that questions regarding the fate of Tiffany and Steven's unaccounted-for embryos are still pending, and the current legal proceedings will continue. The focus of the lawsuit may now shift towards seeking compensation for the 'expenses and the severe emotional trauma that they endured and will continue to experience'. The Fertility Centre of Orlando announced its closure earlier this month, with a new facility reportedly set to open at the same location.

Cases like this are considered extremely rare. A 2018 US study estimated that major IVF errors occur approximately once in every 2,000 cycles, although less serious mistakes are more common. While modern fertility clinics employ advanced safeguards such as barcode tracking, strict lab protocols, and double-witnessing systems to prevent such incidents, IVF procedures inherently rely on human handling at every stage, leaving room for potential error.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a common fertility treatment designed to help individuals get pregnant by fertilising eggs with sperm in a laboratory before implanting the resulting embryo into a recipient womb (uterus). It is recommended for various fertility challenges, including blocked tubes, severe sperm issues, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, and age-related decline, and is also utilised by same-sex couples or single individuals wishing to become parents. The success rate of IVF can vary significantly based on factors such as the cause of fertility problems, age, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle factors like smoking or alcohol consumption. In certain regions, like the UK, eligibility for IVF on the NHS is subject to specific criteria, including age and other health considerations, typically for individuals aged 42 or under.