<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the
association of
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level on day 3 of
embryo culture with
embryo development.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>Spent
culture media were collected from individually cultured
embryos on day 3 of
in vitro fertilization and
embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. HCG concentration in the
culture media was measured using an
ELISA kit and its
association with
embryo development was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 163 samples of
embryo culture media from 60
patients, HCG was positive in 153 sample (93.8%) with a mean level of 0.85 ± 0.43 mIU/ml. The concentration of hCG in the
culture media increased gradually as the number of
blastomeres increased (F=2.273, P=0.03), and decreased as the morphological grade of the
embryo was lowered (F=3.900, P=0.02).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>
ELISA is capable of detecting HCG levels in spent
culture media of
embryos on day 3 of
in vitro culture. The concentration of HCG in spent
culture media is positively correlated with the status of early
embryo development and implantation rate and thus serves as a useful marker for
embryo selection in IVF-ET
procedure.</p>