Tripronuclear Zygotes in IVF Laboratory Quality Control: Experimental Evaluation and Potential Applications

This study set out to evaluate quality control within a new in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory environment and of new incubators based on the culture results of tripronuclear zygotes. The representative environmental indicators within new and old IVF laboratories were monitored, and tripronuclear zygotes were cultured in the two laboratories; the results were analyzed and compared. Subsequently, tripronuclear (3PN) zygotes were cultured in both new and old incubators and the culture results were compared. No differences were found in embryo development between 3PN zygotes in the old and new laboratories. However, in the quality control test, the degeneration rate and developmental arrest rate in the new incubator early phase group were significantly increased when compared with the old incubators. Moreover, the grade I embryo rate also decreased significantly. Nevertheless, all the above comparisons in the new incubator later phase group showed no statistical significance as compared to those observed in old incubators. Tripronuclear zygotes are sensitive to the environment in IVF laboratories and can be considered useful during quality control trials of new IVF laboratories and new equipment including incubators.