Registry · media · Vitrolife
OVOIL (culture oil)
Paraffin oil overlay used to protect culture drops from evaporation, pH shift and temperature change.
What it is and how it's used
Covers all bicarbonate-buffered drops. Oil quality and handling affect every KPI from fertilisation to blastocyst, yet oil is often the last thing checked.
Typical failure modes
- Embryotoxic lot (rare but real): lower fertilisation AND poorer cleavage together.
- Oxidised oil after light or heat exposure, or an opened bottle used too long.
- Under-overlay (too little oil) allowing evaporation; excessive volume slowing equilibration.
What to check first
- Lot number and open date versus the KPI change; storage away from light/heat.
- Overlay volume actually used per dish type versus SOP.
- If in doubt, sentinel/mouse-embryo assay on the suspect lot.
IFU and practice notes
Follow the IFU for storage and use-by-after-opening. Do not pre-wash unless the IFU says so. Treat every oil lot change as a logged variable.
Neutral, and the IFU wins
This page summarises common experience across labs and is not manufacturer guidance. Always follow the current instructions for use for the exact product and version you have, and validate any change of product or protocol before patient use. Corrections and additions are welcome — tell us.
Shared with you by your clinic · Source: https://embryologics.com/embryologists/registry/vitrolife-ovoil · Medical Interventions. Reviewed by a certified clinical embryologist. Educational information — please discuss your own situation with your clinic.
This page is educational and general. It is not a substitute for advice from your own clinic or the manufacturer's instructions for use.