Noninvasive metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media using Raman and near-infrared spectroscopy correlates with reproductive potential of embryos in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media correlates with reproductive potential of individual embryos.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
An academic and a private assisted reproduction program; a university research center.


METHODS
Women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment.


METHODS
Sixty-nine spent media samples from 30 patients with known outcome (0 or 100% sustained implantation rates) were individually collected after embryo transfer on day 3 and were evaluated using Raman and/or near-infrared spectroscopy. The spectra obtained from each instrument were separately analyzed using a wavelength selective genetic algorithm to determine regions predictive of pregnancy outcome. Viability indices reflective of reproductive potential were calculated for each sample. To avoid random correlations, a leave-one-out cross-validation was used. Sensitivity and specificity of predicting viability (described as implantation and delivery) were calculated.


METHODS
Metabolomic profile of culture media and embryo viability.


RESULTS
Viability indices calculated by Raman or near-infrared spectroscopy were higher for embryos that implanted and resulted in a delivery, compared with those that failed to implant. Raman spectroscopy predicted viability of individual embryos with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 76.5%; near-infrared provided a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 83.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid, noninvasive metabolomic profiling of human embryo culture media using Raman or near-infrared spectroscopy combined with bioinformatics correlates with pregnancy outcome.
Seli
Emre
E
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA. emre.seli@yale.edu
Sakkas
Denny
D
Scott
Richard
R
Kwok
Shing C
SC
Rosendahl
Scott M
SM
Burns
David H
DH
D003470:Culture Media / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
D003470:Culture Media