title: A simple and rapid flow cytometry-based assay to identify a competent embryo prior to embryo transfer.
abstract: Multiple pregnancy is a risk for prematurity and preterm birth. The goal of assisted reproduction is to achieve a single pregnancy, by transferring a single embryo. This requires improved methods to identify the competent embryo. Here, we describe such a test, based on flow cytometric determination of the nucleic acid (PI+) containing extracellular vesicle (EV) count in day 5 embryo culture media. 88 women undergoing IVF were included in the study. More than 1 embryos were transferred to most patients. In 58 women, the transfer resulted in clinical pregnancy, whereas in 30 women in implantation failure. In 112 culture media of embryos from the "clinical pregnancy" group, the number of PI+ EVs was significantly lower than in those of 49 embryos, from the "implantation failure" group. In 14 women, transfer of a single embryo resulted in a singleton pregnancy, or, transfer of two embryos in twin pregnancy. The culture media of 19 out of the 20 "confirmed competent" embryos contained a lower level of PI+ EVs than the cut off level, suggesting that the competent embryo can indeed be identified by low PI+ EV counts. We developed a noninvasive, simple, inexpensive, quick test, which identifies the embryos that are most likely to implant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pallinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Hungary.|Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bognar
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|MTA - PTE Human Reproduction Research Group, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bodis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Hungary.|Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Timea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Csabai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Nelli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Godony
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|MTA - PTE Human Reproduction Research Group, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varnagy
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buzas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Hungary.|Endocrine Studies, Centre of Excellence, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.|MTA - PTE Human Reproduction Research Group, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szekeres-Bartho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids