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. (Fertil Steril (R) 2011;96:615-7. (C)2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)