Longevity of donor serum.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the viability of long-term, stored serum, which is used in human in vitro production as a source of energy substrates, amino acids, vitamins, growth factors, and other nutrients.


METHODS
Two-cell mouse embryos were used in this prospective, cohort study. Serum stored for 1-, 5-, 10-, and 12-year intervals was subjected to four replications of mouse-embryo testing.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in blastocyst rates between any of the replicates by year (80-100% blastocyst rate; P > 00.1) or between pooled replicate means by time period.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum may be frozen up to 12 years.
Graves
Jennifer E
JE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Greenville Hospital System, South Carolina 29605-5601, USA.
Higdon
H Lee
HL
Johnson
Jane E
JE
Blackhurst
Dawn W
DW
Boone
William R
WR
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D003470:Culture Media; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media