Embryo Evaluation

Abstract

Embryos are routinely evaluated after collection and prior to transfer into a recipient mare. The evaluation usually takes only a few moments to perform and can provide valuable information as to the probability that a given embryo may survive after transfer. The primary goal is to determine embryo quality, but the evaluation may also identify embryos with significant abnormalities, differentiate unfertilized oocytes from small embryos, and determine if the developmental stage is consistent with embryo age.