Is blastocyst culture done with time-lapse embryo imaging?

Blastocyst culture keeps embryos in the laboratory for several days while the embryology team observes their development toward the blastocyst stage. Time-lapse imaging uses a camera inside an incubator to capture repeated images without routinely removing the embryos for each observation. The images can show changes in cell division and development over time. They do not replace the embryologist’s assessment or determine an outcome on their own.

A clinic may offer both techniques as part of its laboratory service, while another may use standard incubator checks. The choice depends on the laboratory’s equipment, procedures, and how the team plans to assess embryos.

Ask whether your embryos will be cultured to the blastocyst stage and whether a time-lapse incubator will be used. Check how often the laboratory reviews images, what information is recorded, and how those observations will be included in the embryo assessment. Ask whether the imaging changes handling, transfer planning, or storage arrangements. You can read more about [Time-Lapse Embryo Imaging](/technology/time-lapse-embryo-imaging/) to understand the equipment involved.

Contact the fertility team promptly if you are unsure which laboratory steps are planned, receive conflicting instructions about medication or appointments, or are told that embryo development has changed the plan. After a procedure, seek urgent medical advice for severe pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, fever, or breathing difficulty rather than waiting for an imaging update.

Will my embryos be cultured to blastocyst, and will time-lapse imaging be used? What will the images add to the laboratory assessment? Who reviews the recordings, and when will I receive an update?