Human chorionic gonadotropin from day 2 spent embryo culture media and its relationship to embryo development.

OBJECTIVE

To detect hCG in spent embryo culture media at day 2 after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and to assess the relationship of hCG to embryo development.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

SETTING

Fertility center and clinical diagnostic laboratory.

SAMPLE(S): A total of 102 spent culture media from day 2 human embryos and corresponding unexposed media for blank control.

INTERVENTION(S): The culture media samples were tested for hCG by ELISA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Quantity of hCG produced by embryos and correlation with the embryos' developmental status.

RESULT(S): hCG was found in 93 of 102 culture media tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation analysis revealed that the concentration of hCG was independent of embryo developmental status.

CONCLUSION(S): The ability to detect hCG from day 2 spent culture media may be used as a marker for embryo competence.