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How and when to measure pH in IVF culture media: validation of a portable blood gas analyzer in two IVF culture dishes for time lapse and conventional incubators

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Maintaining a stable pH at optimal level in human embryo culture media is crucial for embryo development but poses a challenge for all IVF laboratories. We validate analytically reliable conditions for pH measurement that are as close as possible to the embryo microenvironment during IVF.

Methods

This was a multicentric study. A Siemens EPOC portable blood gas analyzer was used. The analytical validation was carried out under the culture medium (Global Total HSA®) conditions of use (microdroplets, under oil overlay, in a IVF incubator with (EmbryoScope®) or without a time lapse system (K system G210+®) and using IVF dishes. The validation included repeatability (“within-run” precision), total precision (between-day precision), trueness based on inter-laboratory comparison, inaccuracy based on external quality assessment and comparison to the reference technique. We also assessed the pre-analytical medium incubation time required to obtain a target value.

Results

A measurement after an incubation period of 24 to 48 h is more representative of the pH to which the embryo will be exposed throughout the culture. The “within-run” and “between-day” precision show very low coefficients of variation (CV%): 0.17 to 0.22% and 0.13 to 0.34%, respectively, with IVF culture media. Trueness (% bias) range from − 0.07 to − 0.03%. We demonstrate good correlation between EPOC and reference pH electrode with an overestimation of 0.03 pH units of EPOC.

Conclusion

Our method demonstrates good analytical performance for IVF laboratories wishing to implement a robust quality assurance system to monitor pH in embryo culture media. Compliance with stringent pre-analytical and analytical conditions is essential.

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Acknowledgments

This paper and the research behind it would not have been possible without their exceptional work and effort of the embryology staff of the University Hospital of Toulouse and Bordeaux.

Funding

This study is not a clinical trial but is an ancillary study of a French multicentric Randomized Control Trial ACIDOFIV (trial on impact of pH values of the embryo culture medium on live birth rate after In Vitro Fertilization). This latest was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Health (PHRCI2019 RC31/19/0503).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Biologie De la Reproduction-CECOS, Centre Aliénor d’Aquitaine, CHU de Bordeaux, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33076, Boreaux Cedex, France

    Lucie Chansel-Debordeaux, Chloé Depuydt & Sylvie Gallo

  2. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Paule de Viguier Hospital, Toulouse Teaching Hospital Group, 330 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31059, Toulouse, France

    Manon Carles, Jessika Moreau, Edwige Genvrin, Roger Léandri & Nicolas Gatimel

  3. DEFE (Développement Embryonnaire, Fertilité, Environnement), UMR1203, INSERM-Universités Toulouse et Montpellier, Paule de Viguier Hospital, 330 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31059, Toulouse, France

    Manon Carles & Nicolas Gatimel

  4. Toxalim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France

    Jessika Moreau & Roger Léandri

Authors
  1. Lucie Chansel-Debordeaux
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  2. Manon Carles
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  3. Jessika Moreau
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  4. Chloé Depuydt
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  8. Nicolas Gatimel
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Contributions

NG designed the study, analyzed the data, performed statistical analysis, and wrote the manuscript. LCD participated in the design of the study, analyzed the data, and critically revised the manuscript. CD, SG, and EG performed pH analysis. MC, JM, and RL analyzed the data and critically revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the critical discussion and reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for submission and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy of integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicolas Gatimel.

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Chansel-Debordeaux, L., Carles, M., Moreau, J. et al. How and when to measure pH in IVF culture media: validation of a portable blood gas analyzer in two IVF culture dishes for time lapse and conventional incubators. J Assist Reprod Genet 40, 1677–1687 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-02828-6

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