silicon/glass micromachined, fiber optics based, lab-on-chip device and metrological instrumentation for quality evaluation of animal oocytes by vis/nir transmission cell-by-cell measurement (400-950 nm) is shown. several porcine and bovine oocytes were tested. 3 quality classes of porcine and 4 quality classes of bovines oocytes have been identified in a good agreement to classical veterinarian methodology.
the popular veterinarian method of qualitative selection of animals oocytes for artificial fertilization is based on morphological aspects of cells. in the method quality and maturity of ovarian follicles (more mature gives stronger oocytes) and complex of the cumulus cells surrounding particular oocyte (greater number of cells is a positive factor) are two most important morphological factors to be taken into account. selection is done by the trained veterinarian specialists observing under a microscope oocytes “flowing” in pbs (phosphate buffered saline) buffer. this is unsatisfactory selection method one of the weakest points of agriculture breading industry, because introduces larger personal factor and cannot be automated. for example, only in poland at least ten thousand artificial fertilizations of bovines oocytes is done yearly, what introduces proportional number of qualities tests. some local sources confirm that only a half of qualified oocytes results in accepted quality of new-born animals.