Abstract
Purpose
To assess human fertilization and preimplantation embryo development in the presence and in the absence of carbon filtration
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort analysis of fresh, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles as well as previously cryopreserved pronuclear stage embryo transfer cycles in a single IVF center. Embryo development and cycle-based outcomes were compared among three groups: 1) when carbon filtration was present, 2) when carbon filtration was absent, and 3) when carbon filtration had been restored.
Results
A total of 524 fresh cycles and 156 cryopreserved embryo cycles were analyzed. Fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst conversion rates for fresh cycles all declined during the period of absent carbon filtration and recovered after the restoration of carbon filtration. Cryopreserved embryos that were thawed and cultured during the period of absent filtration did not have changes in cleavage or blastocyst conversion rates compared to periods where carbon filtration was present. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were unchanged among the three time periods.
Conclusions
The absence of carbon filtration in an IVF laboratory air handler is associated with poor fertilization and early embryo development for fresh cycles. Because development of previously frozen pronuclear stage embryos was unaffected, the lack of carbon filtration may preferentially affect embryos in the peri-fertilization period. Carbon filtration is an integral part to a successful human in-vitro fertilization laboratory.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Miriam Bridget Zimmerman, Clinical Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Iowa, for her assistance in the statistical analyses required for the manuscript.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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The absence of carbon filtration in an IVF laboratory air handler is associated with poor fertilization andearly embryo development for fresh cycles.
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Supplementary Fig. 1
Cleavage Rates by Insemination Type, January–June. Cleavage rates are graphed for each January–June period from 4 years prior to, and 2 years after, the period of Absent carbon filtration. This change in cleavage rates had never been seen prior to, or since, the period of missing filtration and suggested variability not explained by minimal year-to-year changes expected in most IVF centers (XLSX 12.4 kb)
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Munch, E.M., Sparks, A.E., Duran, H.E. et al. Lack of carbon air filtration impacts early embryo development. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1009–1017 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0495-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0495-1