The Embryology Laboratory performs all the critical procedures such as the collection of eggs, their union with the sperm for fertilization, the culture of the embryos, the freezing and thawing of gametes and embryos, micro-fertilization and biopsy of embryos for pre-implantation control.
There are two main factors that determine the success of the embryology laboratory: its staff of well-trained embryologists and the modern technological equipment. In recent years, in the field of in vitro fertilization, several technological applications have been added, which aim to increase the effectiveness of treatment, to automate procedures, to optimize the conditions of the embryo laboratory and, consequently, to increase the chance of pregnancy.
Indicatively, the cutting-edge technologies that bring the embryological laboratory of the HYGEIA IVF Embryogenesis Unit to the new era are:
Time-lapse technology
Time-lapse systems consist of specialized incubators in which special digital microscope cameras are integrated. The embryos are photographed every 5-10 minutes and these photos are synthesized into videos using special software. In this way, we now have information about the continuous development of the embryos throughout their stay in the laboratory. And all this without having to move away from the incubator for a moment. The embryos remain constantly in the optimal environment of the incubator, thus avoiding their unwanted exposure to non-ideal external conditions. Real-time video recording of embryos as they are developed in the laboratory, combined with advanced software and the large amount of data resulting from timelapse systems, opens a new horizon of possibilities. The combination of time-lapse with intelligent artificial intelligence systems (artificial intelligence, AI), which we used in the embryological laboratory of the IVF Mother Unit in Greece, predict with great precision which embryos will lead to a successful pregnancy and are expected to increase the rates even more success, bringing the embryological laboratory to the new era of automation. Time-lapse is also a very useful research tool that offers new information about fetal cellular processes, which until recently were unknown to reproductive scientists. Moreover, in the new laboratory of the HYGEIA IVF Embryogenesis Unit, we invest in the installation of multiple time-lapse systems, aiming to carry out almost all the incidents within these incubators.
Life Aire IVF ventilation system
The purity of the air of the embryological laboratory is crucial for the optimal development of the embryos during their cultivation. It is essential that the laboratory environment be free of harmful microorganisms, volatiles and microparticles. The embryo laboratory of the new Unit recently installed the first in Europe and one of the few in the world, state-of-the-art Life Aire IVF air purification system, which neutralizes up to 99.99% of contaminants and clinically proven to improve up to 14.9% IVF success rates. In particular, the advanced filters of the LifeAire IVF system destroy the embryotoxic airborne pathogens and trap up to 99.99% of biological and environmental chemical pollutants, as well as viruses, including coronaviruses, ensuring absolute safety in the where the embryos develop. It is the first system in Europe and one of the few in the world right now.
RI Witness tracking and identification system
Effective tracking and identification of eggs, sperm and embryos with the respective unique patients at all stages of the IVF process is a prerequisite, now legally. The electronic system RI Witness using RIFD technology ensures the correctness of the procedures step by step and ensures the absolute safety, transparency and above all the trust of our patients.
Log and guard laboratory condition monitoring system
The stability of the conditions of the embryological laboratory is achieved by the continuous real time recording of all the critical parameters through the monitoring system “Log and Guard”. With this system we have a continuous 24/7 recording of all critical laboratory conditions (temperature of incubators, refrigerators, rooms, pH of culture liquids, levels of CO2 and N2 gases inside the incubators, liquid nitrogen levels of the storage containers of genital material in the bank) .
Writes:
Ioannis Sfontouris Embryologist
Director of Embryological Laboratory HYGEIA IVF Unit Embryogenesis
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