Embryology at IVMED
Technologies in the IVMED embryology laboratory:
Time Lapse
Technology for in vivo monitoring of embryo development
Blastomere biopsy
Technologies for chemical activation of eggs and sperm
Using Ca2+ ionophore and pentoxifylline
Time Laps Embryo Quality and anomaly detection technology
A technology for calculating the probability of genetic abnormalities based on lifelong observation of embryo development
Assisted hatching
Technologies for sperm preparation and analysis
Microfluidic chips for sperm sorting, sperm DNA fragmentation test, maturity tests, oxidative stress test
Genetic diagnostics
Cryostorage
Technologies for cryopreservation of various biological materials: eggs, sperm, embryos, ovarian tissue
IVF ID WITNESS SYSTEM
Ukraine’s first electronic system for protecting patient data and biological material. There is no human factor. Information about you cannot be confused or lost.
Modern equipment of the embryological laboratory:
ESCO Miri IVMEDESCO Miri has a touch screen for simultaneous control and monitoring of important parameters (temperature, gas concentration), as well as visual and audible alerts.
The incubator maintains the optimal temperature, pH of the culture medium and reduced oxygen content in the cells, which simulates the conditions inside the uterus as much as possible.
- allows continuous observation of the morphokinetics of embryonic development without the need to remove embryos from the incubator.
- guarantees stable conditions for growing embryos during their development to the blastocyst stage.
- The software allows you to analyze the video of all 5 days of embryo cultivation and choose the best one for transfer.
- The handheld micromanipulator guarantees high precision of micromovements during the ICSI procedure. Provides the lowest rates of cell degeneration after fertilization.
- The station is equipped with high-quality optics and a heating surface with a highly sensitive temperature sensor.
- The handheld micromanipulator guarantees high precision of micromovements during the ICSI procedure. Provides the lowest rates of cell degeneration after fertilization.
- The station is equipped with high-quality optics and a heating surface with a highly sensitive temperature sensor.
- is a new word in the field of micromanipulation technologies.
- structural elements are made of the latest materials to ensure maximum biocompatibility.
- is equipped with a touch screen, a temperature control unit that allows deviations from the set temperature of only 0.05 ° C.
- is designed for auxiliary hitting.
- allows for the biopsy of the blastomeres and trophectoderm of the embryo for preimplantation diagnosis.
- minimizes the harmful effects on the embryo due to the low invasiveness of this method of hatching and optimal laser parameters.
- is a real-time system for studying the spindle of egg chromosome division.
- Thanks to this technique, it became possible to select eggs in which the metaphase of meiosis is blocked in the “correct” position, which increases the efficiency of fertilization and further development of the embryo, and also reduces the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.
- For ICSI fertilization, such a system allows you to determine the optimal place for sperm injection and accurately determine the degree of development of the egg.
Media for embryo cultivation at IVMED
- The embryos inside the incubators are kept in special solutions with a precise chemical composition. These solutions are called culture media.
- Culture media provide the developing embryo with energy and structural resources and create the right physiological conditions for its development.
- The clinic uses only the highest quality culture media from European and American manufacturers Origio, Life Global, Irvine
- At every stage – from obtaining germ cells, preparing them for fertilization, and transferring the embryo to the uterus – we are confident that our media meet all the needs of cells and embryos according to their stage of development.
Using two environments in parallel
- The laboratory uses the tactic of using two duplicate lines of culture media in parallel. This means that some embryos are cultivated in one medium, and the other part of the embryos of the same patients is cultivated in another medium. This makes it possible to increase the reliability of embryo cultivation processes in the IVMED laboratory and improves the treatment outcome.
- SAGE 1-Step is the main medium for the cultivation of human embryos from the moment of fertilization to day 5-6 of development. Its advantage is that there is no need to change the medium on day 3, because the perfectly matched composition corresponds to each day of embryo development, which also protects embryos from stress during the change of medium and culture dishes. Every 5 days, we open a new medium package to reduce the negative effects of air (oxidation).
- Calcium ionophore is an innovation in world embryology, used to artificially activate eggs after fertilization. Allows to increase the effectiveness of fertilization, especially effective when working with sperm with reduced indicators and eggs of patients of older age groups.
- To perform preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) at the stage of embryo fragmentation, we use a special medium for blastomere biopsy. This reduces stress for the embryo, and the procedure is faster.
About the laboratory
Find out about the details and standards that are followed in the IVMED embryology laboratory
Infrastructure and air in the laboratory
The embryology laboratory covers an area of 40 square meters. It was created in accordance with the recommendations of the European and American associations of reproductive medicine.
The laboratory is designed on the principle of clean rooms. The work areas are hermetically sealed from the outside, where a high level of cleanliness is maintained.
IVMED embryology consists of 4 rooms: a vestibule-gateway from the operating room, the main embryology room, a vitrification room, a room for placing cryocontainers (cryostorage).
The autonomous ventilation system provides 18 times the air exchange per hour, which is 80% higher than national standards. This ensures that volatile substances are immediately removed from the laboratory after disinfection.
The air entering the embryology is purified by passing through 4 filters of the supply ventilation system. The final purification is carried out by HEPA filters that retain particles larger than 0.1 microns.
The 2-fold increase in excess air pressure creates an air barrier that prevents dust particles, microorganisms and volatile chemical compounds that can be toxic to embryos from entering the laboratory.
The air humidity in the embryology room is optimal at any time of the year thanks to an industrial steam generator in the supply ventilation system.
Non-toxic building and finishing materials were used in the creation of the laboratory. Aluminum wall panels with antibacterial coating are installed on the walls and ceiling.
Standards and protocols for working with cells and embryos
An important aspect of the IVMED embryology quality control system is the availability and compliance with the most detailed protocols for each procedure and manipulation of biological material and embryos.
The laboratory’s internal protocols are formed in accordance with the guidelines of ESHRE (European Society of Human Embryologists and Reproductive Scientists).
The work of each embryologist is standardized, the instructions are detailed, and the double control system eliminates deviations from the protocols.
Detailed embryo cultivation protocols are maintained with a clear description of the stages of development and quality of embryos.
All individual characteristics of cells and embryos are detailed and recorded, which allows you to choose the best option and treatment protocol for each patient.
Embryo and biomaterial identification system
- Each patient of the clinic has a unique identification code that allows us to identify embryos, as well as all documentation related to them.
- The identification process begins when the patient arrives for the procedure, when all the details are checked.
- All laboratory glassware is labeled with parameters that are unique to a particular patient undergoing this procedure; indelible markings are applied to the bottom and lid of each tube.
- Unique markers for each patient are checked against the accompanying documents and noted by the embryologist each time the embryos are transferred.
Read about IVF ID Witness System >
There is a double control system in place, each procedure in embryology and the moments of labeling are controlled by another embryologist.
Before the embryo transfer, the patient’s identity and personal code are checked against both the documentation and the test tube containing the embryos. The patient sees his name and a photo of the embryos to be transferred on the monitor screen.
Each cryotope with frozen embryos or eggs is labeled with two duplicate systems – a permanent marker and a sticker with identifying information about the patient, which is printed on a special printer.
Embryo safety
The most expensive thing in embryology is embryos. Their safety comes first.
The uninterrupted power supply system for embryology is provided by two independent power substations. In the event of a power outage, the autonomous battery power supply system supports the operation of all embryology systems for 24 hours.
The centralized gas supply system of incubators with a double circuit and automatic switching of gas sources eliminates the possibility of gas supply interruption. Only high-purity gases produced in Germany are used.
There are independent temperature and pH sensors for the environment in which the embryos are kept in the incubators. Their readings are constantly compared with the data on the display of the incubators themselves, which provides double control and maintains an optimal embryo culture environment.
Remote monitoring of the status of key embryology systems is provided by GSM alarm units. They report minimal deviations in the operation of monitored systems.
Restricted access: only embryologists wearing special clothing and removable shoes with electrostatic properties are allowed to visit embryology. They use personal magnetic cards to enter the premises.
Disinfectants that are non-toxic to embryos are used for disinfection in embryology.
Quality control
The work of the clinic’s embryological laboratory meets international quality standards.
The laboratory’s activities are subject to strict internal standards and are regulated by instructions.
A system of double control has been implemented for any stage of work with reproductive cells, each micromanipulation, and each stage of research.
The temperature of the premises, refrigerators, incubators, and humidity levels are monitored daily, and the laboratory’s gas system is automatically controlled.
An internal audit of the laboratory’s work is carried out on a regular basis to prevent errors in its operation.
The staff is constantly undergoing professional testing and training.
According to the results of an external audit, our clinic has been certified by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and internationally certified by ISO.
Compliance with international quality standards for the provision of medical services is confirmed by obtaining registration from the US FDA.
