Determination of fertility potential from the oxidation-reduction potential of a biological sample

A method of evaluating the fertility potential of a successful implantation of a fertilized egg, comprising:

• a. measuring the static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP) and/or the capacity oxidation-reduction potential (cORP) of medium in which a fertilized egg is being cultured;
• b. comparing the measured sORP and/or cORP of a sample of the medium to a reference value, wherein if the ORP value of the medium being tested is significantly increased compared to the reference value identifies the fertilized egg cultured in the medium as being unlikely to establish and maintain a successful implantation;
• and
• c. treating the medium with an antioxidant if the ORP value of the medium being tested is significantly increased compared to the reference value.

A method of improving the likelihood that a fertilized egg will achieve a successful pregnancy, comprising:

• a. measuring the static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP) and/or the capacity oxidation-reduction potential (cORP) of medium in which a fertilized egg is being cultured;
• b. comparing the measured sORP and/or cORP of a sample of the medium to a reference value, wherein if the ORP value of the medium being tested is significantly increased compared to the reference value identifies the fertilized egg cultured in the medium as being unlikely to establish and maintain a successful implantation;
• c. treating the medium with an antioxidant if the ORP value of the sample being tested is significantly increased compared to the reference value;
• d. comparing a sample of the treated medium of step (c) to the reference value;
• e. identifying the fertilized egg cultured in the medium as likely to establish and maintain a successful implantation if the ORP value of the treated medium sample is essentially similar to a reference value;
• and
• f. implanting the fertilized egg.