A new long shelf life formulation of modified Ham's F-10 medium: biochemical and clinical evaluation

Purpose: To evaluate biochemically and clinically a new formulation of modified Ham's F-10 medium made without the inclusion of hypoxanthine. The medium was formulated for long-term storage and use by separately preparing a stable liquid (basal) portion and a freeze-dried supplement containing the labile medium components. Results: Following 18 months of storage the basal medium was biochemically analyzed for its amino acid (aa's) and vitamin content. Cysteine and tryptophan were decreased to less than 30% of their starting theoretical concentrations (STCs). Asparagine, serine, tyrosine, histidine and lysine were present at 50% to 70% of their STC. The remaining aa's were all within 90% of their STCs except arginine which was at 77%. All of the vitamins were present at 90% or more of their STCs except inositol, riboflavin and thiamine which were present at 70% of their STCs. IVF with the new formulation resulted in 13 deliveries from 51 aspirations (25%) as compared with 10/39 (26%) in 1991, when standard medium preparation was used. Oocyte donation resulted in 30 deliveries from 84 cycles (36%) with the new formulation as compared with 21/65 (32%) in 1991. Conclusions: (1) The new basal with lyophilized supplement formulation produces similar clinical results in the IVF laboratory as medium prepared in the standard fashion, (2) certain amino acids and vitamins are not stable in the liquid basal medium, and (3) the separate formulation of a liquid basal medium with lyophilized supplement is convenient, viable alternative to modified Ham's F-10 medium prepared in the standard manner (i.e., from powder) and may decrease the need for frequent medium preparation.