THE EFFECT OF EMBRYO MORPHOLOGY AND CULTURING METHODS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF NON-INVASIVE PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC TESTING FOR ANEUPLOIDIES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact common embryological culturing methods and blastocyst morphology on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) content spent media performance non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (niPGT-A). Human embryos were group cultured until day 4 when they washed, transferred into individual fresh droplets (∼20μl) a mature blastocyst. Spent collected from each embryo before TE biopsy between Day 5 – 7. Embryos in 3x2 experimental design across hatching conditions (no vs assisted natural hatching) blastocoel fluid (BF) inclusion (BF +/-). Additionally, collection Gardner School Morphology Grading expansion, ICM grade recorded. Media samples tested by Quantification Fragmentation Assessment assay developed in-house assess cfDNA samples. Samples also niPGT-A analyzed using CNV Analysis Software Takara Bio USA (Takara Bio). Corresponding with VeriSeq PGS (Illumina) reported BlueFuse Multi Software. clinical concordance result PGT-A, concentration fragmentation sample compared groups. Experimental groups generalized linear mixed models. developing found have an / PGT-A while addition/exclusion BF had no these results. affected concordance, longer periods yielding improved performance. Lastly, morphological grading expansion correlated concordance. Embryo significantly resulting Differences factors are largely due quantity media.