AbdelHafez, F, Xu, J, Goldberg, J, et al. Vitrification in open and closed carriers at different cell stages: assessment of embryo survival, development, DNA integrity and stability during vapor phase storage for transport. BMC Biotechnology 2011; 11: 29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ahlström, A, Westin, C, Reismer, E et al. Trophectoderm morphology: an important parameter for predicting live birth after single blastocyst transfer. Human Reproduction 2011; 26: 3289–3296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ahlström, A, Westin, C, Wikland, M et al. Prediction of live birth in frozen–thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles by pre-freeze and post-thaw morphology. Human Reproduction 2013; 28: 1199–1209.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine, ESHRE Special Interest Group Embryology. Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2011; 22: 632–646.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Bielanski, A. A review of the risk of contamination of semen and embryos during cryopreservation and measures to limit cross-contamination during banking to prevent disease transmission in ET practices. Theriogenology 2009; 77: 467–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Chatzimeletiou, K, Morrison, EE, Panagiotidis, Y et al. Cytoskeletal analysis of human blastocysts by confocal laser scanning microscopy following vitrification. Human Reproduction 2012; 27: 106–113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Cobo, A, Castello, D, Weiss, B et al. Highest liquid nitrogen quality for vitrification process: micro bacteriological filtration of LN2. 16th World Congress on In Vitro Fertilization, 2011; Abstract P052: 289.Google Scholar

Ebner, T, Vanderzwalmen, P, Shebl, O et al. Morphology of vitrified/warmed day-5 embryos predicts rates of implantation, pregnancy and live birth. Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2009; 19: 72–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ebner, T, Vanderzwalmen, P, Shebl, O et al. Morphological aspects of human blastocysts and the impact of vitrification. Journal für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie 2011; 8: 13–20.Google Scholar

Ebner, T, Köster, M, Shebl, O et al. Application of a ready-to-use calcium ionophore increases rates of fertilization and pregnancy in severe male factor infertility. Fertility and Sterility 2012; 98: 1432–1437.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ebner, T, Montag, M, Oocyte Activation Study Group. Live birth after artificial oocyte activation using a ready-to-use ionophore: a prospective multicentre study. Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

European Parliament Directive (EU Tissues and Cells Directive 2004/23/EC). http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/fr/oj/2004/l_102/l_10220040407fr00480058.pdf.Google Scholar

Fahy, GM, Levy, DI, Ali, SE. Some emerging principles underlying the physical properties, biological actions, and utility of vitrification solutions. Cryobiology 1987; 24: 196–213.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Gardner, DK, Schoolcraft, WB. In vitro culture of human blastocysts. In Jansen, R, Mortimer, D (eds) Towards Reproductive Certainty: Infertility and Genetics Beyond 1999. Parthenon Press, Carnforth, 1999, pp. 378–388.Google Scholar

Grout, BW, Morris, GJ. Contaminated liquid nitrogen vapour as a risk factor in pathogen transfer. Theriogenology 2009; 71: 1079–1082.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Honnma, H, Baba, T, Sasaki, M et al. Trophectoderm morphology significantly affects the rates of ongoing pregnancy and miscarriage in frozen-thawed single-blastocyst transfer cycle in vitro fertilization. Fertility and Sterility 2012; 98: 361–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Kasai, M, Edashige, K. Movement of water and cryoprotectants in mouse oocytes and embryos at different stages: relevance to cryopreservation. In Ri-Cheng, C, Quinn, P (eds) Fertility Cryopreservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 16–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Kuwayama, M, Vajta, G, Leda, S et al. Comparison of open and closed methods for vitrification of human embryos and the elimination of potential contamination. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2005; 11: 608–614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Kuwayama, M. Highly efficient vitrification for cryopreservation of human oocytes and embryos: the CryoTop method. Theriogenology 2007; 67: 73–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Lane, M, Schoolcraft, WB, Gardner, DK. Vitrification of mouse and human blastocysts using a novel cryoloop container-less technique. Fertility and Sterility 1999, 72: 1073–1078.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Leibo, S. Water permeability and its activation energy of fertilized and unfertilized mouse ova. Journal of Membrane Biology 1980; 53: 179–188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Leibo, SP, Pool, TB. The principal variables of cryopreservation: solutions, temperatures, and rate changes. Fertility and Sterility 2011; 96: 269–276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Liebermann, J, Tucker, MJ. Comparison of vitrification and conventional cryopreservation of day 5 and day 6 blastocysts during clinical application. Fertility and Sterility 2006; 86: 20–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Liebermann, J. Vitrification of human blastocysts: an update. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2009; 19 (Suppl 4): 4328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Mukaida, T, Nakamura, S, Tomiyama, T et al. Vitrification of human blastocysts using cryoloops: clinical outcome of 223 cycles. Human Reproduction 2003a; 18: 384–391.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Mukaida, T, Takahashi, K, Kasai, M. Blastocyst cryopreservation: ultrarapid vitrification using cryoloop technique. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2003b; 6: 221–225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Mukaida, T, Oka, C, Goto, T et al. Artificial shrinkage of blastocoeles using either a micro-needle or a laser pulse prior to the cooling steps of vitrification improves survival rate and pregnancy outcome of vitrified human blastocysts. Human Reproduction 2006; 21: 3246–3252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ortega-Hrepich, C, Stoop, D, Guzmán, I et al. A”freeze-all” embryos strategy after in vitro maturation: a novel approach in women with polycystic ovary syndrome? Fertility and Sterility 2013; 100: 1003–1007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Panagiotidis, Y, Vanderzwalmen, P, Prapas, Y et al. Open versus closed vitrification of blastocysts from an oocyte-donation programme: a prospective randomized study. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2013; 26: 470–476.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Parmegiani, L, Accorsi, A, Cognigni, GE et al. Sterilization of liquid nitrogen with ultraviolet irradiation for safe vitrification of human oocytes or embryos. Fertility and Sterility 2010; 4: 1525–1528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Parmegiani, L, Cognigni, G, Bernardi, S et al. Efficiency of aseptic open vitrification and hermetical cryostorage of human oocytes. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2011; 23: 505–512.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Papatheodorou, A, Vanderzwalmen, P, Panagiotidis, Y et al. Open versus closed oocyte vitrification system: a prospective randomized sibling-oocyte study. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2013; 26: 595–602.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Quinn, P. Suppression of ice in aqueous solutions and its application to vitrification in assisted reproductive technology. In Ri-Cheng, C, Quinn, P (eds) Fertility Cryopreservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 10–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Rall, W, Fahy, G. Ice-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at −196 degrees C by vitrification. Nature 1985; 313: 573–575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Seki, S, Mazur, P. Effect of warming rate on the survival of vitrified mouse oocytes and on the recrystallization of intracellular ice. Biology of Reproduction 2008; 79: 727–737.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Seki, S, Mazur, P. The dominance of warming rate over cooling rate in the survival of mouse oocytes subjected to a vitrification procedure. Cryobiology 2009; 59: 75–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Shaw-Jackson, C, Bertrand, E, Becker, B et al. Vitrification of blastocysts derived from fair to poor quality cleavage stage embryos can produce high pregnancy rates after warming. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 2013; 30: 1035–1042.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Shu, Y, Watt, J, Gebhardt, J et al. The value of fast blastocyst re-expansion in the selection of a viable thawed blastocyst for transfer. Fertility and Sterility 2008; 91: 401–406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Stachecki, J, Garrisi, J, Sabino, S et al. A new safe, simple and successful vitrification method for bovine and human blastocysts. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2008; 17: 360–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Stehlik, E, Stehlik, J, Katayama, KP et al. Vitrification demonstrates significant improvement versus slow freezing of human blastocysts. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2005; 11: 53–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Takahashi, K, Mukaida, T, Goto, T et al. Perinatal outcome of blastocyst transfer with vitrification using cryoloop: a 4-year follow-up study. Fertility and Sterility 2005; 84: 88–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Van den Abbeel, E, Camus, M, Verheyen, G et al. Slow controlled-rate freezing of sequentially cultured human blastocysts: an evaluation of two freezing strategies. Human Reproduction 2005; 20: 2929–2945.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Vanderzwalmen, P, Bertin, G, Debauche, CH et al. Births after vitrification at morula and blastocyst stages: effect of artificial reduction of the blastocoelic cavity before vitrification. Human Reproduction 2002; 17: 744–751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Vanderzwalmen, P, Bertin, G, Debauche, CH et al. Vitrification of human blastocysts with the Hemi-Straw carrier: application of assisted hatching after thawing. Human Reproduction 2003; 18: 1504–1511.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Vanderzwalmen, P, Ectors, F, Grobet, L et al. Aseptic vitrification of blastocysts from infertile patients, egg donors and after IVM. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2010; 19: 700–707.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Vanderzwalmen, P, Zech, NH, Ectors, F et al. Blastocyst transfer after aseptic vitrification of zygotes: an approach to overcome an impaired uterine environment. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2012; 25: 591–599.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Vanderzwalmen, P, Ectors, F, Grobet, L et al. Adaptation of a universal procedure for cryopreservation of different developmental stages: is it conceivable? In Varghese, AC, Sjöblom, P, Jayaprakasan, K (eds) Practical Guide to Setting Up an IVF Lab, Embryo Culture Systems and Running the Unit. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, New Delhi, 2013a, pp. 118–131 and 2101–2110.Google Scholar

Vanderzwalmen, P, Connan, D, Grobet, L et al. Lower intracellular concentration of cryoprotectants after vitrification than after slow freezing despite exposure to higher concentration of cryoprotectant solutions. Human Reproduction 2013b; 28: 2101–2110.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Van Landuyt, L, Stoop, D, Verheyen, G et al. Outcome of closed blastocyst vitrification in relation to blastocyst quality: evaluation of 759 warming cycles in a single-embryo transfer policy. Human Reproduction 2011; 26: 527–534.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Wikland, M, Hardarson, T, Hillensjo, T et al. Obstetric outcomes after transfer of vitrified blastocysts. Human Reproduction 2010; 25: 1699–1707.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Wirleitner, B, Vanderzwalmen, P, Bach, M et al. The time aspect in storing vitrified blastocysts: its impact on survival rate, implantation potential and babies born. Human Reproduction 2013; 28: 2950–2957.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Yan, J, Suzuki, J, Yu, XM et al. Effects of duration of cryo-storage of mouse oocytes on cryo-survival, fertilization and embryonic development following vitrification. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 2011; 28: 643–649.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Zech, N, Lejeune, B, Zech, H et al. Vitrification of hatching and hatched human blastocysts: effect of an opening in the zona pellucida before vitrification. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2005; 11: 355–361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed