Stability and Durability in Vitrification: What Do They Mean in IVF?

The three factors that affect the stability and durability in vitrification process are:

• Cooling and warming rates
• The composition of cryoprotectant solution
• The volume of cryoprotectant solution

Cell toxicity and osmotic pressure created by the high concentration of cryoprotectant solution is one of the main risks associated with the vitrification process. In order to limit this, the exposure time of the eggs/embryos in the cryoprotectant solution must be reduced or the cooling rate must be increased by decreasing the sample volume.

This can be achieved by specially designed storage devices that would allow rapid cooling and also reduce the amount of solution surrounding the embryos or the eggs. Thus the durability and stability in vitrification of embryos and gametes can be maintained.

An innovative method of vitrification implemented these days is by using sealed pulled straws that reduces the risk of any contamination during the vitrification process and also maintain a high cooling rate in liquid nitrogen slush.