ABSTRACT
The culture system plays an important role in the success rates of an IVF clinic. A “culture system” defines all aspects of embryo culture in a laboratory-the type of media and culture vessels, volume per drop/well, embryo density, CO2 and O2 tension, pH, temperature, and type of incubation (i.e., box or benchtop incubators, use of desiccator jars, etc.). The culture system also defines workflow and drives much of the laboratory routine. Although embryologists may have different opinions regarding which is the best culture system, there is overall agreement that such a system should be disturbed as little as possible in order to optimize embryo culture conditions. The desire to minimize disruptions of the culture environment resulted in the practice of limiting embryo assessment to specific time points during embryo growth,3 therefore defining embryo grading on static snapshots based on certain milestones of embryo development.
