Near-infrared (NIR) analysis of day 2 embryo culture media from the cohort of patients morphologically good grade embryos

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media using NIR spectroscopy assesses modifications of the chemical composition of the embryo's surrounding medium and generates a Viability Score. The objective of this study was to assess the Viability Score for an individual patient's cohort of similar good grade morphological embryos and determine whether differences in scores could impact on the patient's chances of achieving pregnancy.DESIGN: Analysis of day 2 embryo culture media.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embryos were cultured individually in 20μl of SAGE cleavage medium at the Kato Ladies Clinic, Tokyo, Japan. Media samples were collected from 95 good grade 1 and 2 morphology embryos that were selected for either transfer or freezing from 36 patients. The embryo media samples and blank controls were frozen and stored. NIR spectral analysis was performed on all the embryo culture media samples and expressed as a Viability Score. The score reflects the implantation potential of an embryo.RESULTS: On average (mean + SD) 2.6 + 1.2 good grade embryos were assessed for each patient. NIR analysis of all 95 embryo media gave varying scores ranging from 0 to 0.6. Within an individual patient's cohort of embryos the average variability in the Viability Score was 0.34 + 0.1. We have previously shown that Day 2 Viability Scores of <0.3 or >0.3 give an implantation rate of 20% and 41% respectively (Seli et al. Fertil. Steril. 2009). The selection of a good morphology embryo with a Viability Score of 0.24 would have an expected implantation potential of ∼20% while a similar morphology embryo scoring 0.44 would have an expected implantation potential of ∼40%.CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that the Viability Score varies significantly within a patient's cohort of good embryos. This indicates that assessing a metabolic parameter could have an enormous impact on improving the chances of selecting the most viable embryo within a cohort of morphologically good grade embryos. OBJECTIVE: Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media using NIR spectroscopy assesses modifications of the chemical composition of the embryo's surrounding medium and generates a Viability Score. The objective of this study was to assess the Viability Score for an individual patient's cohort of similar good grade morphological embryos and determine whether differences in scores could impact on the patient's chances of achieving pregnancy. DESIGN: Analysis of day 2 embryo culture media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embryos were cultured individually in 20μl of SAGE cleavage medium at the Kato Ladies Clinic, Tokyo, Japan. Media samples were collected from 95 good grade 1 and 2 morphology embryos that were selected for either transfer or freezing from 36 patients. The embryo media samples and blank controls were frozen and stored. NIR spectral analysis was performed on all the embryo culture media samples and expressed as a Viability Score. The score reflects the implantation potential of an embryo. RESULTS: On average (mean + SD) 2.6 + 1.2 good grade embryos were assessed for each patient. NIR analysis of all 95 embryo media gave varying scores ranging from 0 to 0.6. Within an individual patient's cohort of embryos the average variability in the Viability Score was 0.34 + 0.1. We have previously shown that Day 2 Viability Scores of <0.3 or >0.3 give an implantation rate of 20% and 41% respectively (Seli et al. Fertil. Steril. 2009). The selection of a good morphology embryo with a Viability Score of 0.24 would have an expected implantation potential of ∼20% while a similar morphology embryo scoring 0.44 would have an expected implantation potential of ∼40%. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that the Viability Score varies significantly within a patient's cohort of good embryos. This indicates that assessing a metabolic parameter could have an enormous impact on improving the chances of selecting the most viable embryo within a cohort of morphologically good grade embryos.