The use of Albuminar 5 as a medium supplement in clinical IVF

Human serum and Albuminar 5 (A5) were compared as medium supplements to Earle's solution containing pyruvate in clinical IVF. One-hundred patients in each group showed a fertilization rate of 60% with serum and of 62% with A5. The overall pregnancy rates in the serum and A5 groups were 20 and 24%, respectively. The incidence of failed fertilization (6-7%) and of multipronucleate oocytes (4-5%) was similar in both groups. At 37 degrees C, sperm survived less well in A5 although the rate of fertilization was not reduced. Blastocyst formation was not seen in 'spare' embryos grown in vitro in medium containing 15% v/v A5.