Rahul Singh Parmar։ IVF Lab QC – Artificial Oocyte Activation and Recurrent Fertilization Failure
Rahul Singh Parmar, Senior Clinical Embryologist at Indira IVF Group, shared on LinkedIn։
“IVF Lab QC – Artificial Oocyte Activation (AOA) and Recurrent Fertilization Failure.
Total fertilization failure (TFF) or poor fertilization after ICSI remains a critical challenge in the embryology laboratory. It is often associated with oocyte activation deficiency (OAD), which may relate to sperm-borne PLC-zeta deficiency or impaired oocyte signaling pathways.
AOA SOP and Mechanism: Key Clinical Aspects.
- Calcium ionophore (A23187/Ionomycin): Triggers transient intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations in post-ICSI oocytes, mimicking the natural sperm-induced activation cascade.
- Indications for AOA: May be considered following previous TFF or poor fertilization, 100% globosoospermia (round-headed sperm), and selected severe male-factor cases.
- Exposure timing and washing: Requires strictly controlled post-ICSI timing – often 10 – 15 minutes-followed by immediate, thorough multi-step washing to limit chemical toxicity.
Key QC Considerations for Embryologists
- Controlled incubation: Precise ionophore exposure timing is essential. Overexposure may contribute to cytoplasmic degeneration and reduced blastocyst conversion.
- Evidence-based application: AOA is best used as a targeted clinical add-on for appropriately indicated cases, under validated laboratory protocols and with patient consent.
What is your laboratory’s primary approach to fertilization-failure cases: calcium-ionophore AOA, or physiological/advanced sperm-selection techniques?”
Other articles featuring Rahul Singh Parmar on Fertility News.
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:24Riikka Leppänen: Happy to Attend the Nordic Fertility Society Congress 2026
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:18Brian A. Levine: The Question of Whether to Try Again is One of The Hardest in Medicine
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:13Aumatma Simmons: Trying to Conceive Can Feel Like a Full-Time Job…
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:11Nalanda Jayadev: What if “Knowing Early” Could “Change” a Child’s Future?
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:04Oluyemisi Famuyiwa: Your Fertility Story Should Begin with Knowledge, Not a Crisis
-
Aug 31, 2026, 17:01Vasileios Sarafis: The S.A.F.A.R.I. Protocol – 6 Domains, 1 Structured Plan
-
Aug 31, 2026, 16:54Amitha Nanjundaiah: Should We Aim for Better Oocyte Quality or Greater Oocyte Numbers?
-
Aug 31, 2026, 16:51Sahana C: In Fertility, the Messiness of Clinical Analytics Is Real
-
Aug 31, 2026, 16:46Elham Mohammadzadeh: Attending Excellent Scientific Sessions at NFS 2026