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 nucleic acid extraction.

1 . A method for selecting a human embryo and subsequently implanting said embryo in a female undergoing in vitro fertilization, said method comprising the steps consisting of:
 i) providing a sample of the culture medium where the embryo is grown;   ii) extracting the cell free nucleic acids from the sample;   iii) detecting the presence of at least one specific nucleic acid sequence in the nucleic acid extraction;   iv) selecting the embryo in view of the results obtained in step iii); and   v) implanting the embryo selected in step iv) in said female.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step iii) comprises detecting the presence of at least one genetic alteration or genetic abnormality in the nucleic extraction. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the presence of at least one specific nucleic acid sequence is performed by PCR or quantitative PCR.