Controversies in ART: Considerations and Risks for Uninterrupted Embryo Culture

Publication date: Available online 11 March 2019Source: Reproductive BioMedicine OnlineAuthor(s): Jason E. SwainAbstractWith new time-lapse incubators, IVF laboratories have increased use of single step media, often used in an uninterrupted approach. This simplifies the culture process for embryologists, may help reduce costs, and offers the potential to reduce cell handling and associated harmful environmental stressors and improve embryo quality and outcomes. However, one could argue that optimized quality control and culture conditions are required to successfully implement uninterrupted culture. Without impeccable laboratory conditions and oversight, while trying to reduce harmful environmental stress, the laboratory could be imparting stress. Factors like medium evaporation and associated osmolality and pH increases, as well as VOC accumulation, could offset any advantage of reduced dish/embryo handling. When implementing uninterrupted embryo culture, particular attention must be paid to incubator humidity, amount, quality and type of oil used, medium formulation and protein quality, as well as laboratory air/gas supply quality and VOC content.
Source: Reproductive BioMedicine Online - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research