Separation of miscarriage tissue from maternal decidua for chromosome analysis

Objective: To demonstrate a technique for separation of miscarriage tissue from maternal decidua to reduce maternal cell contamination for chromosome analysis. Design: Retrospective. Setting: University-based infertility center. Patient(s): Not applicable. Intervention(s): Retrospective collection of de-identified images and video from manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) performed after first-trimester pregnancy losses. This project was exempt from institutional review board approval as no patient-identifying data were used. Main Outcome Measure(s): Reduction of maternal cell contamination and improvement of the accuracy of chromosome analysis. Result(s): Video demonstration of separation of miscarriage tissue from maternal decidua after MVA. Conclusion(s): Chromosome analysis of a miscarriage is performed to assess the etiology of miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss. However, maternal cell contamination can limit the accuracy. This video demonstrates a technique for separating miscarriage tissue from maternal decidua after MVA to reduce maternal cell contamination prior to sending tissue for analysis. The same technique has been used in our clinic with first-trimester dilation and curettage using mechanical suction. (C) 2014 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.