ACTIVITY NUMBER: LABCC100

ACTIVITY TITLE: Embryology Certificate Course

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 27.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.   Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has been approved to provide Professional Enrichment Education Renewal (PEER) credit through the American Board of Bioanalysis.  This activity has been approved for 27.5 PEER Credits through the American Board of Bioanalysis. Program No. 22717.   

Release Date:  October 15, 2014

Reviewed and Updated in 2020

Expiration Date: December 31, 2024

Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 27.5 hours

NEEDS ASSESSMENT and IDENTIFICATION OF PRACTICE GAP

Many couples that are unable to conceive will proceed to use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This involves a collaborative effort between reproductive endocrinologists, laboratory personnel, reproductive biologists, and nurses.  

Discussion and evidence about reproductive laboratory technologies can be found not only in the scientific literature, but in the popular press and on the Internet as well. New technologies with implications for the treatment of the infertile couple are being developed and advancing rapidly such that even experienced embryologist might benefit from additional educational opportunities. It is important, therefore, that clinicians, laboratory scientists and allied health professionals are aware of the basic evaluation and treatment during an IVF cycle, as well as progress in technology that may have an impact on IVF now or in the future.  This area has been identified as a practice gap for reproductive care clinicians and scientists based on recent competence assessments by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

The Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT) has established an online Embryology Certificate Course.  This online course will provide an easily accessible and detailed content in the field of basic and advanced ART laboratory techniques as well as provide critical basic science and background information.  This course will provide a common knowledge set appropriate for the broad range of health care professionals involved in the treatment of the infertile couple that proceeds to ART, provide training in the assessment of parameters of gametes and embryos, laboratory technologies, and laboratory management as well as assisting embryologists in identifying strategies for improving the IVF laboratory. 

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

1.   Review the physiology and pathophysiology of male and female reproductive function.

2.   Review the principles of cell biology and molecular biology as it pertains to embryologists.

3.   Describe the key elements of the ART laboratory management and function.

4.   Identify basic and advanced techniques used in the ART laboratory.

5.   Analyze present strategies for improving the function of the ART laboratory

COURSE OUTLINE 

Reproductive Biology 

1.       Female Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology

2.       Male Reproductive Anatomy, Physiology, and Spermatogenesis

3.       Primordial Germ Cells and Oogenesis

4.       Fertilization and Early Embryo Development

5.       Implantation

DNA, Chromosomes, and Genetic Testing 

6.       DNA/Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression

7.       Embryo Biopsy

8.       Preimplantation Genetic Testing

9.       Mosaicism in Humans

10.     Epigenetics

Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures – Basic 

11.     Stimulation Protocols

12.     Culture Media and Conditions, Part 1 

13.     Culture Media and Conditions, Part 2

14.     Microbial Contamination of IVF Cultures

15.     Oocyte Retrieval

16.     Semen Collection

17.     Sperm Preparation

18.     IVF Insemination

19.     Changeover Day Fertilization Assessment

20.     Cleavage-Stage Embryo Grading

21.     Blastocyst Development and Grading  

22.     Embryo transfer

23.     Third-party Reproduction

Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures – Advanced 

24.     Cryopreservation

25.     Vitrification

26.     Management of Cryopreserved Gametes and Embryos

27.     Time-lapse Imaging Morphometry (TLIM)

28.     Assisted Hatching

29.     In Vitro Maturation

30.     Infectious Disease

31.     OMICS 101

32.     Micromanipulation Toolmaking

Laboratory Management 

33.     The IVF Laboratory

34.     Quality Control

35.     Laboratory Safety

36.     Troubleshooting

37.     Minimizing and Tracking Errors in the ART Laboratory

38.     Emergency Planning

39.     Regulation, Accreditation, and Inspection Preparedness

40.     Legal Aspects of Patient Interaction in the ART Laboratory

41.     Research and Institutional Review Boards

42.     Ethical, Legal, and Religious Issues in Infertility Treatment

43.     Continuing Professional Development

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of new and experienced clinicians, laboratory scientists and allied health professionals with an interest in ART laboratory technologies for the evaluation and treatment of the infertile couple.

ACGME COMPETENCIES

Medical Knowledge

Patient Care

Professionalism

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of this educational activity requires the learner to: