Insights pieces are based on questions BCSI receives from the community on the use of pH monitoring technology.
Example Case
The lab has been using pH monitoring with their equipment regularly and has determined that their pH values are within an acceptable range, even during frequent door openings. Based on this data, the lab asks, if the incubators are holding steady then why bother continuing with pH monitoring?
To best answer this question, I would like to describe how practical pH monitoring can be divided into two categories: short-term monitoring and long-term trending. Both types of data are necessary to guarantee a continuously optimal culture environment. The above group has resolved their short-term monitoring needs but are missing the long-term benefits pH monitoring can provide their culture system.
Short-Term pH Monitoring Benefits
Short-term monitoring is the use of collected pH data to resolve current issues in the culture system or to alarm from immediate equipment/culture system issues. Short term pH monitoring is up to one week of data, including initial pH value recordings. During this stage of monitoring, the lab can learn about their unique culture system and troubleshoot arising issues. Daily pH monitoring gives your lab knowledge of the active culture system- the heat exchange between plastics, media, and oil all affect observed pH ranges and values. Tracking pH units over a weeklong span gives the lab critical information to determine if their current disposables are compatible with their equipment and produce the desired culture environment.
Some examples of effective uses of short-term pH monitoring include:
Creating initial baseline competencies for equipment in use or newly purchased equipment
Alerting the lab to immediate, damaging embryo development conditions
Observing current media procedures to determine if protocol changes are needed
Confirming or creating a quality control pH range
Testing new embryo culture protocols or products before clinical use
Tracking the effects of media equilibration time, temperature, weather and media components on the culture system
Long-term pH Trending Benefits
Long-term Trending is performing multi-test data analysis to track work patterns, pH unit drift, equipment function. Once initial pH data has optimized the culture environment, the long-term benefits of continuous monitoring can start. The incubator is widely considered the most critical piece of equipment in the ART laboratory- incubator type, age, and physical location all affect performance. Continued pH monitoring, even when all equipment looks to be functioning properly, leads to insights into how well the culture system functions and how well the equipment continues to perform. There are multiple equipment functionalities that long-term pH trending can alarm for, including:
Reductions in CO2 sensor competency leading to increased pH fluctuations over time
Door seal leakage over continued usage of the incubator
CO2 overshoot during increased incubator usage, staffing, or patient numbers
The effects from compromised gas line tubing, faulty door seals, or gas line leaks are missed without long-term pH monitoring. It is critical to remember that current incubator competence does not signify continued competence. While the lab may have determined their culture system is functioning currently, continued competence requires pH trending to alarm the lab when things go wrong. Halting pH testing because there are no current issues is like stopping sampling of your incubator CO2 measurements because they have always read accurately, or removing the alarm on liquid nitrogen tanks because they are regularly filled and have had no previous issues. For continued optimal patient care, short and long-term pH monitoring is needed.
Have embryology or culture media topics you would like to discuss? Feel free to contact me with your suggestions, and they could be addressed in our upcoming web email series.
Susan Olds
Embryology Product Specialist
Blood Cell Storage, Inc.
Tel: +1.425.654.8462 (D)
Email: susan.olds@safesens.com