Methods for determining the quality of an embryo

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the fields of reproductive medicine. More specifically, the present invention relates to in vitro non invasive methods and kits for determining the quality of an embryo by determining the level of the cell free nucleic acids and/or determining the presence and/or expression level of at least one specific nucleic acid sequence in the nude is acid extraction.

1 . An in vitro non invasive method for determining the quality of an embryo comprising the steps of i) providing a sample of the culture medium where the embryo is grown, ii) extracting cell free nucleic acids from the sample to form a nucleic acid extraction and iii) determining a level of cell free nucleic acids in the nucleic acid extraction and/or determining the presence and/or expression level of at least one specific nucleic acid sequence in the nucleic acid extraction. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of i) determining a level of nucleic acid in the nucleic acid extraction, ii) comparing the level determined at step i) with a reference value, and iii) concluding that the embryo is competent when the level determined at step i) is lower than the reference value. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the sample is prepared when the embryo has reached a blastocyst stage corresponding to day 5 or 6 of embryo development. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the reference value is a level of nucleic acids determined in a culture medium at day 3 of embryo development. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of i) detecting at least one mutation in the nucleic acid extraction, and ii) concluding that the embryo bears a genetic abnormality when the mutation is detected. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of i) determining a level of at least one specific nucleic acid sequence, ii) comparing the level determined at step i) with a reference value and iii) concluding that the embryo bears a genetic abnormality when the level determined at step i) is different from the reference value.