The results of a recent Embryolab study announced at this year’s ESHRE virtual conference, presented by Mrs. Mary Karagianni, MSc. Clinical Embryologist, indicate that “Artificial collapse (AC) of human dilated stem cells protects the quality of stem cells during the vitrification / thawing process”.

Distinguished scientists from the global scientific community expressed their interest in our study by asking various questions, while the participants of the 37th ESHRE Conference rated the two Embryolab announcements with 5/5 (See here the second announcement on “Embryos with or without multinucleated blastomers” in PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) cycles for aneuploid testing: Is there a difference?).

The embryology science is evolving in all fields, and this development could not be without the new protocols that increasingly propose elective freeze all, as well as the growing conditions and culture materials that in the new reality provide us more, bigger and better-quality blastocysts! 

Stretched blastocysts, however, appear to be more sensitive and prone to “cryo”injuries during vitrification due to the large amount of fluid present inside the blastocyst, which can cause insufficient dehydration. This is where artificial collapse may come in handy, a pre-cryopreservation method in which the blastocyst shrinks and, as much fluid as possible is removed, leaving the blastocyst in contact with the cryoprotectors long enough to be adequately dehydrated. 

The study conducted at Embryolab, proves that artificial collapse with laser use ensures the quality of blastocysts with good prognosis and also reduces any risk in the cryopreservation process. Specifically, in Embryolab’s Embryology Laboratory and in addition to the application of special protocols, SOPs seem to help protect the quality characteristics of embryos before and after thawing.