Blastocyst culture mediums
brenda - Nov 4th, 2005 7:24 PM
[ Original Post ]

Hi
Can you explain the steps in a blastocysts transfer from a clinic perspective? Please.
Meaning is the culture mediums the same from clinic to clinic, and how important is the embryologist experience in blastocysts and what types of equipment is needed to do blastocyst.
Is it true that one clinic can do very well in blastocysts development and other clinics not do as well?

Also, what organizations certify labs and do the standards vary from lab to lab?

would you use a lab that is only accrediated by the state health department, and not an outside organization, which the lab is in?

Comment


 

Dr Smith - Nov 6th, 2005 12:12 PM

Successfully culturing embryos to the blastocyst stage requires experience and attention to fine detail. Accordingly, not all programs are capable. There are several, commecially available, FDA-approved culture media available to grow blastocyst stage embryos. The equipment is standard. So why the variation from lab to lab? Attitude. If the laboratory staff are consistent and maintain an attention to detail (i.e. follow the protocol exactly), they are successful in growing blastocyst stage embryos. Inconsistent laboratory conditions yield inconsistent results. In this day and age, a laboratory that is incapable of growing blastocyst stage embryos should probably be avoided.

As far as accreditation is concerned, most IVF labs in the US are accredited through the Reproductive Laboratory Accreditation Program (RLAP) of the College of American Pathology. However, the State of New York has an equivalent accreditation program. Other state-specific accreditation programs are not currently recognized as equivalent to RLAP.