The simplified two-pipette technique is more efficient than the conventional three-pipette method for blastomere biopsy in human embryos.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of a simplified two-pipette technique in comparison to the conventional three-pipette method; in the two-pipette method, a single, larger drilling/biopsy pipette is used to perform zona pellucida (ZP) drilling and blastomere aspiration for embryo biopsy.


METHODS
A preclinical, prospective, randomized, in vitro experiment.


METHODS
The reproductive unit of a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Ninety-five excess embryos at the two- to four-cell stage were obtained from 35 patients undergoing IVF.


METHODS
At the six- to eight-cell stage, 88 embryos were allocated randomly to three groups: group I for the conventional method (n = 29), group II for the simplified technique (n = 30), and group III for controls (n = 29). The embryos then were cultured in vitro. The retrieved blastomeres were fixed and examined with fluorescence in situ hybridization using X and Y probes simultaneously.


METHODS
Biopsy time, successful retrieval of a blastomere, fixation of the cell, signals developed from fluorescence in situ hybridization, and growth potential and hatching capacity of the biopsied embryos were evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean time (+/- SD) for biopsy of each embryo in group I (435 +/- 137 seconds) was significantly longer than that in group II (126 +/- 32 seconds). The success rates for obtaining an intact blastomere were not different between group I (93%) and group II (97%). The growth capacity to the blastocyst stage was similar among the three groups (34%, 37%, and 38%, respectively). However, the ZP-drilled and biopsied embryos of groups I and II had higher percentages of hatching (34% and 37%, respectively) and complete hatching (17% and 20%, respectively) than did those of group III (10% and 0, respectively). The blastomeres obtained by biopsy in groups I and II were equally fixed (90% vs. 90%, respectively) and shown in fluorescence in situ hybridization (79% vs. 80%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the conventional method, the simplified technique is more efficient and equally efficacious for blastomere biopsy in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
Chen
S U
SU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chao
K H
KH
Wu
M Y
MY
Chen
C D
CD
Ho
H N
HN
Yang
Y S
YS
D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000648:ultrastructure