Decreased in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates after an equipment error during CO(2) calibration.
OBJECTIVE
To report the decreased IVF rate of oocytes and the reduced cleavage rate of pronuclear stage embryos after gas has backflowed from a gas analyzer into an incubator during the calibration of the CO(2) concentration.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Clinical research unit for reproductive medicine in a hospital.


METHODS
Backflow of gas from a gas analyzer into an incubator during calibration of the CO(2) concentration.


METHODS
The IVF rate of oocytes and the cleavage rate of pronuclear stage embryos.


RESULTS
Thirty-two oocytes were retrieved from four infertile female patients. Nine oocytes were fertilized and four fertilized oocytes were cleaved. In a related animal experiment, the cleavage rate was 57.1% (36/63) in the control group and 25.4% (16/63) in the study group (P =.00026).


CONCLUSIONS
The backflow of gas from the gas analyzer adversely affected the fertilization of oocytes and the cleavage of pronuclear stage embryos.
Wang
H
H
Clinical Research Unit for Reproductive Medicine, Shanxi Provincial Hospital, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China. hxwang@public.ty.sx.cn
Wang
R
R
Liu
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D002245:Carbon Dioxide