Radiofrequency identification tag system improves the efficiency of closed vitrification for cryopreservation and thawing of bovine ovarian tissues.

Abstract

A radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag system was designed to streamline cryopreservation and thawing procedures. This study evaluated the usefulness of the RFID tag system for improving the efficiency of cryopreserving/thawing bovine ovarian tissue by the closed vitrification protocol. Six participants carried out closed vitrification and thawing of bovine ovarian tissues procedures using either the conventional or the new RFID tag method, and the time required to perform each step of the respective methods was measured. After normality of data was confirmed by the Shapiro-Wilk test, the significance of differences was assessed by the unpaired t test. When closed vitrification was performed, the time required for each step showed a significant difference between the two methods (t(4) = 2.938, p = 0.042, d = 2.40), and the total cryopreservation time was 11 min shorter using the RFID tag system. When thawing was performed, the time required for each step also showed a significant difference between the two methods (t(4) = 2.797, p = 0.049, d = 2.28), and the total thawing time was 2 min shorter using the RFID tag system. The RFID tag system tested in this study seems to be suitable for managing biological samples stored in liquid nitrogen. Adoption of an RFID tag system by fertility centers may not only improve the efficiency of cryopreserving/thawing reproductive tissues but could also reduce human error.