Together. All the way.

When working with assisted reproduction we use a lot of different terms and definitions. This blog post will give you an update on the rather new acronym PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) as well as a glossary of common and useful terms.

EmbryoScope time-lapse system is used in combination with preimplantation genetic testing at IVF Riga. Medical Director Dr. Violeta Fodina says that this makes it possible to select only the best embryos for genetic testing, thereby reducing the time to pregnancy and delivery of a child. Watch her story here. 

Looking at available data on results in IVF, outcome differs widely between clinics and countries. In this blog post Dr. Markus Montag speculates if this could be related to quality and workflow in the constantly developing field of IVF. He also provides valuable tips on how to create a more efficient workflow in your lab and thus gain higher quality

The human embryo is extremely sensitive to stress and surrounding factors. In fact the embryonic stage is the most sensitive stage of the whole life cycle. This is why it is particularly important to use safe and non-toxic products during gamete handling and embryo culture. In this recorded webinar Dr. Christer Silversand will show how you can create optimal culture conditions by understanding the importance of extensive quality testing and using an unbroken chain of quality products.

This year, San Antonio was the place to be when participating in the annual meeting of ASRM. Similar to previous years, professionals from all over the world gathered to present or listen to the latest scientific developments in the field of assisted reproduction. We have collected our thoughts and reflections of the scientific content of the meeting in this blog post. 

Professor David K. Gardner FAA needs no further introduction to anyone working in the field of IVF. We know him as a well-respected scientist who has transformed how human IVF is performed. During 2017 he has recieved two prestigious awards. In this blog post Vitrolife's CSO, Dr. Mark Larman, congratulates him and gives an overview of the extensive work achieved by his mentor and friend.

Lab Director and co-owner Dr. Oliver Sterthaus at Fertisuisse in Switzerland built a completely new IVF clinic in 2014 with his colleagues. When setting up the new lab, convenience and workflow were important factors, and therefore they decided to use the dynamic Octax NaviLase laser system for all laser procedures. Watch his story here. 

In the IVF lab we basically do the same things every day. Often performed on a very tight schedule and not all that interesting but still must be done with care, as everything which concerns patients. Preparation of dishes is one of those very important things that at least I find time consuming and slightly boring. Dish preparation is commonly done several times a day: perhaps in the morning for ICSI, during mid-day for sperm insemination of oocytes and most common, in the late afternoon as part of the preparations for next day. How do we prepare dishes? And how should we do it?

Vitrification has in recent years become the cryopreservation method of choice, with high survival rates and developmental potential of oocytes and embryos similar to fresh ones. Yet there are challenges to overcome, both for the oocyte and embryo and for the embryologist. In this recorded webinar Dr. Ann-Helene Jakobsson will give you insight into how to succeed with vitrification. 

“Maintaining the correct temperature is a critical environmental factor for gametes and embryos and needs to be carefully monitored. You must be aware of confounders as hot and cold spots on warming plates, laminar hood or ventilation flows and open or closed lid to ensure a safe working temperature”, says Jan Gunst, clinical embryologist at the public IVF clinic at AZ Sint-Jan in Bruges, Belgium. Watch his story here.