What to Look for When Purchasing Frozen Embryos

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Peter Elsden

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Oct 2, 2011
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The survival of frozen-thawed-transferred embryos depends on several factors, and they are based on a subjective classification of quality expressed as #1, 2 or 3 meaning excellent, good or fair quality. However, classification is not 100% reliable as the grading scores vary among practitioners, plus as we have learned over the relatively brief years of embryo transfer, embryos recorded as #1 from one donor may result in excellent pregnancy rates, while #1 embryos from another donor may result in a very disappointing pregnancy rate.

Many practitioners and researchers describe good quality embryos as viable which is not an accurate term and possibly leads to the thought that a calf will result more often from an embryo described as viable after transfer. The correct terminology is a transferable quality embryo. Viable means, capable of developing and growing and this is not always the case. But there are other factors (apart from the quality and preparation of the recipient) which can be a significant help in predicting pregnancy rates.

These additional factors can be deduced from an accurately filled out international embryo transfer certificate which should always accompany frozen embryos at the time of sale. Unfortunately, too often there is no certificate, but it may not be the fault of the embryo transfer practitioner. For instance the owner of the embryos may have been given a certificate for 10 frozen embryos but 2 are sold to one buyer, 3 to another and 5 to a third buyer. Unfortunately the seller did not make copies of the certificate for the 3 buyers.

More factors to consider which affect the establishment of a successful pregnancy are:

1. The age of the embryo e.g. bovine embryos recorded as Day 6, 7 or 8 yield the best chances of success, but Day 5 or 9 embryos will result in poor pregnancy rates.
2. The stage of development of the embryo in relation to its age e.g. Day 6 embryos should be compacted morulae (#4), not a loose or morula with round cells. Day 7 embryos should be blastocysts (# 5, 6 or 7).
3. How competent was the technician performing the freezing process? This can be difficult to resolve, however references may help, plus does a certificate accompany the embryos, is it filled out completely and legibly.
4. Are the embryos in yellow DT straws, sitting in yellow goblets with a yellow tab on the cane depicting the donor and date of freezing?
5. The number of hours between embryo collection and freezing. From observations by two experienced embryo transfer practitioners, embryos should be frozen within 3 to 5 hours after collection for optimum results. Remember all of these facts can be obtained from the IETS certificate.

Dr. Peter Elsden
Owner / Instructor
The International Embryo Transfer School
For more information, visit: http://www.ETSchool.com
 

Bulldaddy

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Oct 5, 2009
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Location
Valley Mills, Texas
Dr Elsden, very good information.  Thanks for sharing. Do you have any suggestions regarding the use of IVF embryos or do the same rules apply?
 

Peter Elsden

Active member
Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Messages
36
Treat the IVF embryos the same as the regular  embryos,taking extra care to thaw correctly and transfer as soon as possible after thawing bacause these embryos have been damaged and they are only half the normal number of cells.  Good Luck.
 
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