Genética Humana e Embriologia

A Comparison between Two Vitrification Devices: Plastic Blade and McGill Cryoleaf

Abstract

Maria Panagopoulou, Nikos Nikolettos, Vaia Dala, Elias Tsakos, Konstantinos Charalabopoulos and Byron Asimakopoulos

Vitrification devices are of considerable importance for the successful vitrification of gametes and embryos. They have to be easy to use and achieve good results. We compared the plastic blade, a new in-house device, to McGill Cryoleaf regarding the convenience of the use and the survival rate of vitrified human abnormal oocytes and embryos after thawing. Material and methods: Abnormal oocytes and embryos derived from women who underwent I.V.F treatment, were used in this study. Two groups were included. In the control group, abnormal oocytes and embryos were vitrified with the Cryoleaf; in the second group, it was used the plastic blade. In both groups, vitrification followed a standard and commercially available protocol. Results: A number of problems appeared in the use of plastic blade during handling under liquid nitrogen and during placing the device into the warming solution. The survival rates of the vitrified oocytes (61.53%) and embryos (42.86%) with the plastic blade were significantly lower than with McGill Cryoleaf (80% and 61.54% respectively). Conclusion: Plastic blade is not as effective as McGill Cryoleaf. Further improvements could establish it as an alternative vitrification device.