Clinical validation of an automatic classification algorithm applied on cleavage stage embryos: analysis for blastulation, euploidy, implantation, and live-birth potential.

Study Question: Is a commercially available embryo assessment algorithm for early embryo evaluation based on the automatic annotation of morphokinetic timings a useful tool for embryo selection in IVF cycles?

Summary Answer: The classification provided by the algorithm was shown to be significantly predictive, especially when combined with conventional morphological evaluation, for development to blastocyst, implantation, and live birth, but not for euploidy.

What Is Known Already: The gold standard for embryo selection is still morphological evaluation conducted by embryologists. Since the introduction of time-lapse technology to embryo culture, many algorithms for embryo selection have been developed based on embryo morphokinetics, providing complementary information to morphological evaluation.

Selection of preimplantation embryos using time-lapse microscopy in in vitro fertilization: State of the technology and future directions.

In this review, our aim is to give an overview of the state of the technology and clinical outcomes of time-lapse microscopy in improving embryo selection as a key step in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Using traditional incubators, morphologic assessment of the fertilized embryos is limited to snapshots at a few discrete points in time, reducing the amount of information that could potentially be obtained. Time-lapse monitoring overcomes this limitation without exposing the embryos to environmental changes.

Obstetric and perinatal outcome of babies born from sperm selected by MACS from a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess outcomes after magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) technology on obstetric and perinatal outcomes compared with those achieved after swim up from randomized controlled trial.

Methods: This is a two-arm, unicentric, prospective, randomized, and triple-blinded trial and has a total of 237 infertile couples, between October 2010 and January 2013. A total of 65 and 66 newborns from MACS and control group, respectively, were described.

Removal of annexin V-positive sperm cells for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in ovum donation cycles does not improve reproductive outcome: a controlled and randomized trial in unselected males.

Objective: To determine the effect of removing presumptive apoptotic sperm cells from samples from unselected males by means of magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) on live-birth delivery rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in couples undergoing ovum donation (OD).

Design: Prospective, randomized, triple-blinded, and controlled study.

Setting: Private university-affiliated IVF center.