Fast Vitrification and Warming Protocols
Costa Borges et al, HR
The ability to successfully freeze (vitrify) and thaw (warm) eggs and embryos is crucial to the success of assisted reproduction. This study tested whether the time spent by eggs and embryos in freezing and thawing solutions could be shortened without lowering their chances of surviving and developing normally.
The investigators tried short-exposure procedures first on mouse eggs and embryos, then on human eggs that were not going to be used for treatment. The results showed that eggs and embryos did just as well with these shortened protocols as with standard, longer protocols.
The hope is that shortened exposure to sub-optimal temperatures and potentially harmful solutions (which are inevitable parts of the protocol) means time-savings in the laboratory and better pregnancy outcomes for patients.
