Induced Cellular Lysis and Increased Laser Exposure During Trophectoderm Biopsies Can Generate Low-level Mosaic Profiles: a Prospective Study Authors: Whitney JB, CM Rios, K Balloch, RE Anderson, MC Schiewe Study question: Can trophectoderm biopsy technique induce mosaicism using a technician-induced, manual cell lysis research model? Summary answer: Prospective induction of cellular damage on research aneuploid embryos revealed a positive correlation to mosaicism, suggesting that mosaicism…
Euploid Rate of Embryos Derived From Aspirated and Ejaculated Sperm A. Miller,a C. Rios,b K. Silverberg,c M. VerMilyea.b aEmbryology, San Antonio IVF, Austin, Texas; bOvation Fertility, Austin, Texas; cTexas Fertility Center, Austin, Texas OBJECTIVE: To determine the euploid rate relationship between aspirated and ejaculated sperm-sourced embryos DESIGN: Retrospective study MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trophectoderm biopsy and PGS screening were performed on Day 5, 6 and 7…
Increased Scrutiny of NGS Profiles / Ranking Does Not Improve eSet Implantation of Euploid Blastocysts: a Randomized Comparative Trial Authors: Rios C, JB Whitney, M VerMilyea, A Jones, A Picou, K Balloch, N Nugent, K Silverberg, RE Anderson, MC Schiewe. Study question: Can NextGeneration sequencing (NGS) profile ranking of euploid embryos better predict eSET implantation potential of top quality blastocysts in contrast to morphological grading…
Comparative Effectiveness of a Universal Warming/dilution Approach to Blastocyst Vitrification Authors: Schiewe MC, S Zozula , R VanTol, A Jones, RE Anderson Study question: Is the efficacy of vitrified human blastocyst post-warming dilution using a universal sucrose dilution approach comparable to standard manufacturer procedures? Summary answer: Human blastocysts vitrification is equally effective using a simple sucrose step down dilution approach independent of the type of cryoprotective agent…
Concordance Rates Among Multiple Trophectoderm Samples and ICM Remain High Proving the Efficacy of NGS for Preimplantation Genetic Screening Authors: Anderson RE, JB Whitney, CM Rios, A Jones, Harutunian A, MC Schiewe Study question: Are human blastocysts homogeneous for chromosomal copy number between multiple samples of the trophectoderm and does trophectoderm ploidy accurately predict ICM ploidy? Summary answer: Upon re-biopsy, trophectoderm homogeneity for full gain…
Patients of Advanced Maternal Age Should Only Transfer a Single Euploid Blastocyst Catherine Gordon1, John B Whitney2, Ilene Hatch3, Nancy L Nugent2, Shane Zozula2, Robert E Anderson4 and Mitchel C Schiewe2* 1University of California-Irvine, Department of OB – GYN, Orange, CA 92868, USA 2Ovation Fertility/SCIRS, ART Lab, Newport Beach, CA 92663, USA 3Fertility Center of Southern California, Irvine, CA 92612, USA 4Southern California Center for…
Potential Laboratory Cost-Savings for a Blastocyst Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) Vitrification (VTF) Program Schiewe M.C.,1 Gibbs C.,2 Whitney J.B.,1 Jones A.,2 Freeman M.R.,2 and S. Zozula1 1Ovation Fertility, Newport Beach, California 2Ovation Fertility, Nashville, Tennessee Objective: We aimed to critically evaluate the cost benefits of a clinically proven non-commercial, aseptic closed VTF system to other commonly used open/hybrid VTF devices, and discuss the importance of cost-savings in today’s assisted reproductive technology…
Cryopreservation of Post-Compaction Embryos for IVF Mitchel C. Schiewe At the beginning of this century, the application of vitrification technology was gaining momentum in clinical medicine with the use of various ‘open vitrification systems’ (i.e. direct embryo–solution contact with liquid nitrogen), which offered high cooling rate potential and high levels of completely intact embryo survival using mixed dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/ethylene glycol (EG) solutions. Not surprisingly, the combined use of blastocoele…
Testicular Tissue Freeze Preservation Clinical freeze preservation of whole human testicular tissue: the practicality of pre-freeze in vitro culture (IVC) to optimize post-thaw sperm motility Pub: Journal of Pregnancy and Reproduction 2017 Volume 1(4):4-4 Mitchel C. Schiewe, PhD1,2 Abstract: The clinical effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has enabled testicular sperm processing and freezing to be a fertility preservation option for men. Our ART Lab has…
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current trends aimed to optimize healthy singleton term births, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control/ART reporting and assess the role blastocyst (BL) vitrification and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) has played in our clinical management goal of “one embryo-one baby.” Additionally, we have critically weighed the pros and cons of routinely implementing these ART procedures in laboratory practice management. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of…
OBJECTIVE: We have shown that human blastocysts (BL) are resilient to re-vitrification (rVTF) up to 5 times using microSecure (µS) VTF, as well as extended room temperature exposure up to 10 min in 3 different commercial VTF solutions (30% EG/DMSO; 32% EG/PPG and >7.9M Glycerol (G)/EG). The purpose of this investigation was to better understand the interrelationship between cryophysical and chemical factors on the efficacy of…
Objective: To determine the occurrence and ploidy status of usable embryos derived from oocytes not displaying two pronuclei (0PN) at the time of fertilization assessment. Design: Retrospective study in a private in vitro fertilization laboratory. Materials and Methods: A total of 3,370 blastocysts were identified as being morphologically suitable for fresh embryo transfer, vitrification or trophectoderm biopsy for genetic testing of ploidy status followed by…
OBJECTIVE: To determine if culturing embryos to Day 7 improves IVF cycle outcomes. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 698 FET cycles was performed to evaluate the value of culturing embryos to Day 7. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embryos were cultured in continuous culture medium (Irvine Scientific) from fertilization check through Day 7 without media renewal. All freeze quality blastocysts on Day 5, 6, or 7 based…
Vitrification: The Pioneering Past To Current Trends And Perspectives Of Cryopreserving Human Embryos, Gametes And Reproductive Tissue Mitchel C Schiewe, Robert E Anderson Ovation Fertility/Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine, Newport Beach, CA, USA Abstract: After more than 2 decades of development in mammalian models and the clinical focus of a few pioneering laboratories, vitrification of human oocytes and embryos has transformed today’s assisted reproductive technology (ART)…
We present a fully automated multi-sperm tracking algorithm. It has the demonstrated capability to detect and track simultaneously hundreds of sperm cells in recorded videos while accurately measuring motility parameters over time and with minimal operator intervention. Algorithms of this kind may help in associating dynamic swimming parameters of human sperm cells with fertility and fertilization rates. Specifically, we offer an image processing method, based…
Quality Control Factors Influencing the Successful and Reliable Implementation of Oocyte and Embryo Vitrification
Clinical vitrification evolved slowly, with interests and acceptance being commercially driven by the development of unique devices, safer solutions, and the misconception that ultra‐rapid cooling in an “open” system was a necessity to optimizing vitrification success. Furthermore, the dogma surrounding the importance of cooling rates has led to unsafe practices subject to excessive technical variation and risky modifications to create closed‐storage devices. The aim of this chapter is…
Elective single embryo transfer criteria should be applied to frozen embryo transfer cycles
Elective Single Embryo Transfer Criteria ASRM Guidelines for the number of fresh embryos to transfer were developed initially in 2008 and then updated in 2013. The guidelines were developed to address the increasing number of twins and high order multiples that IVF programs were reporting to SART. They recommended that patients <35 years old have elective single embryo transfer (eSET) unless they had two or…
Preimplantation Genetic Screening Saves Time, Heartache in Advanced Maternal Age IVF Treatment
Women in their 30s and 40s who are trying to become pregnant using in vitro fertilization (IVF) benefit greatly from preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), according to a new study by the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine, in conjunction with Ovation Fertility™. By incorporating PGS into the IVF process, the study concluded that women of advanced maternal age experienced higher live birth rates per egg…
Euploidy Predictability of Human Blastocyst Inner Cell Mass and Trophectoderm Grading
The selection of viable, potentially normal, embryos is vital to successful embryo transfers. Subjective morphology grading of blastocysts has been the most accepted and reliable standard to judge embryo quality. However, good to excellent embryo development alone does not necessarily insure euploidy. Our objective was to determine if independent quality grades for blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) can predict early embryo euploidy. Secondly, we aimed to develop a…
Validation of microSecure vitrification (μS-VTF) for the effective cryopreservation of human embryos and oocytes.
A novel, aseptic closed system vitrification (VTF) technique for the cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes has been developed and clinically validated in this study. It combines the practicality of embryo-containing sterile flexipettes stored safely and securely with 0.3 ml CBS™ embryo straws possessing weld seals. The cooling and warming rates of this double container system were determined using a data logger. Upon direct plunging into…
The Historic Development and Incorporation of Four Assisted Reproductive Technologies Shaping Today’s IVF Industry
The concept of assisted reproductive technologies was most notably derived from the late 19th Century experiments of Sir Walter Heape who successfully transplanted rabbit embryos. Interestingly, it was not until the late 1940’s and 1950’s that renewed interests in rabbit embryo transfer and cryobiology occurred. The history behind developing effective procedures can be fascinating, though few could be more accidental than Dr. Chris Polge’s discovery…
