Comparison of laser-assisted hatching and acidified Tyrode's hatching by evaluation of blastocyst development rates in sibling embryos: a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess two zona drilling methods in terms of blastocyst development rates using sister embryos.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized study. Sister embryos of 14 patients were randomly assigned on day 3 to acidified Tyrode's zona drilling or to laser zona drilling. After biopsy, subsequent embryo culture until the blastocyst stage (day 5) was performed.

SETTING

Private fertility center.

PATIENT(S): Patients undergoing IVF-preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

INTERVENTION(S): Embryo biopsy using either laser-assisted hatching or acidified Tyrode's hatching on sibling embryos and subsequent blastocyst development evaluation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Evaluation of blastocyst development in terms of degree of expansion and cell number in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm.

RESULT(S): Blastocyst development rates (and blastocyst quality) were similarly high in both the acidified Tyrode's hatching group and the laser-assisted hatching group.

CONCLUSION(S): Laser hatching does not impair embryonic development to the blastocyst stage, demonstrating that laser-assisted hatching is a suitable alternative to the use of acidified Tyrode's solution for zona drilling.