Lack of carbon air filtration impacts early embryo development

Abstract

Purpose To assess human fertilization and preimplantation embryo development in the presence and in the absence of carbon filtration Methods This is a retrospective cohort analysis of fresh, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles as well as previously cryopreserved pronuclear stage embryo transfer cycles in a single IVF center. Embryo development and cycle-based outcomes were compared among three groups: 1) when carbon filtration was present, 2) when carbon filtration was absent, and 3) when carbon filtration had been restored. Results A total of 524 fresh cycles and 156 cryopreserved embryo cycles were analyzed. Fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst conversion rates for fresh cycles all declined during the period of absent carbon filtration and recovered after the restoration of carbon filtration. Cryopreserved embryos that were thawed and cultured during the period of absent filtration did not have changes in cleavage or blastocyst conversion rates compared to periods where carbon filtration was present. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were unchanged among the three time periods.Conclusions The absence of carbon filtration in an IVF laboratory air handler is associated with poor fertilization and early embryo development for fresh cycles. Because development of previously frozen pronuclear stage embryos was unaffected, the lack of carbon filtration may preferentially affect embryos in the peri-fertilization period. Carbon filtration is an integral part to a successful human in-vitro fertilization laboratory.

Impact of the IVF laboratory environment on human preimplantation embryo phenotype

“…Filtering the air to remove particulate matter and harmful chemicals [in particular volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] has been shown to increase the number of embryos that are of high morphological quality, develop to the blastocyst stage and result in live birth. [225][226][227][228] Because it would be unethical to intentionally expose human embryos to air pollutants to determine their effect, much of the existing evidence is from circumstantial retrospective studies, but animal studies have demonstrated a direct effect of VOCs on the embryo's ability to develop into blastocyst. 229,230…”

Air quality control on in vitro fertilization outcomes in assisted reproduction laboratories: a systematic review

“…In a retrospective cohort study of 2015, Munch et al 11 analyzed assisted reproduction cycles. The embryo development and the results based in the cycles were compared between three groups: 1) when there was carbon filtration; 2) when there was not carbon filtration; 3) when the carbon filtration was restored.…”

Air quality control in the ART laboratory is a major determinant of IVF success

“…The deleterious effects of poor air quality to embryo development and implantation and how controlling laboratory air quality can minimize such effects have been investigated over the last 15 years ( Table 1 ). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Recognizing the importance of laboratory air quality to the safety of IVF treatments, regulatory directives in the European Union and Brazil dictate specific requirements for air quality control within reproductive laboratories. 18 19 Such regulatory directives aim to safeguard public health in line with the precautionary principle, but they require different strategies to mitigate the air-related risks (revised in Esteves and Bento, 2013).…”