Noninvasive metabolomic profiling as an adjunct to morphology for noninvasive embryo assessment in women undergoing single embryo transfer

Objective: To determine whether metabolomic profiling of spent embryo culture media correlates with reproductive potential of human embryos. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Academic and a private assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. Patient(s): Women undergoing single embryo transfer after IVF. Intervention(s): Spent embryo culture media were collected after single embryo transfer on day 3 (n = 304) or day 2 (n = 181) and analyzed by near infrared spectroscopy. Near infrared spectral regions were correlated to reproductive potential using a genetic algorithm optimization. Models of these spectral regions were used to calculate viability indices, and were validated by blinded analysis of a subset (n = 60) of samples. Implantation rates were also compared between embryos of higher (>= 0.3) and lower (<0.3) viability indices, and within each morphology grade. Main Outcome Measure(s): Viability index and embryo viability. Result(s): Mean viability indices of embryos that resulted in positive fetal cardiac activity were significantly higher compared with embryos that did not for both day 2 and day 3 embryos. Blinded validation of the day 2 model proved to be significant. Increasing viability index values correlated with an increase in pregnancy. Viability indices were found to be independent of morphology for both day 2 and day 3 embryos. Implantation rates were significantly higher among embryos with viability indices >= 0.3. Conclusion(s): Metabolomic profiling of human embryo culture media using near infrared spectroscopy is independent of morphology and correlates with reproductive potential of embryos. (Fertil Steril(R) 2010;94:535-42. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)