Incubator management in an assisted reproductive technology laboratory

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 703 - 710
• Main Authors: Higdon, H. Lee, Ph.D, Blackhurst, Dawn W., Dr. P.H, Boone, William R., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Cattle; Embryo Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Embryo Culture Techniques - standards; Environment, Controlled; Equipment Design; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - instrumentation; Filtration - instrumentation; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Incubators - standards; Internal Medicine; Laboratories, Hospital - standards; Materials Testing; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Oocytes - metabolism; Oxygen - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Quality Control; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - instrumentation; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - standards; Retrospective Studies; Temperature; Tissue Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Tissue Culture Techniques - standards; Human; Embryo; assisted reproductive technology; Prognosis; Incubator; Assisted procreation; ART outcome; Air quality; Laboratory; Obstetrics; Clinical management; Treatment; Technology; Animal; Quality control; Evolution
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.03.040

Objective To study the effect of incubator management on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. Design Series of retrospective and controlled, randomized studies. Setting Tertiary care infertility practice. Patient(s) Mammalian gametes/embryos. Intervention(s) Evaluation of human and bovine oocytes/embryos cultured in various environmental conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s) Fertilization and embryo development rate as well as clinical pregnancy rate (PR). Conclusion(s) Here we review the general topic of incubator management as it pertains to ART. Discussed within the context of this article will be our experiences as they relate to incubator management. Details as they apply to incubator environment also will include gamete/embryo positions within incubator, air quality, and quality control. Key Words Air quality, ART outcome, assisted reproductive technology, incubator, quality control