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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos
Published on: June 12, 2020
[Association of human chorionic gonadotropin level in embryo culture media with early embryo development]
Haiying Wang1, Renli Zhang, Dong Han
1Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangdong General Hospital/ Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Objective:
To investigate the association of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level on day 3 of embryo culture with embryo development.
Methods:
Spent culture media were collected from individually cultured embryos on day 3 of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. HCG concentration in the culture media was measured using an ELISA kit and its association with embryo development was assessed.
Results:
In the 163 samples of embryo culture media from 60 patients, HCG was positive in 153 sample (93.8%) with a mean level of 0.85 ± 0.43 mIU/ml. The concentration of hCG in the culture media increased gradually as the number of blastomeres increased (F=2.273, P=0.03), and decreased as the morphological grade of the embryo was lowered (F=3.900, P=0.02).
Conclusion:
ELISA is capable of detecting HCG levels in spent culture media of embryos on day 3 of in vitro culture. The concentration of HCG in spent culture media is positively correlated with the status of early embryo development and implantation rate and thus serves as a useful marker for embryo selection in IVF-ET procedure.
