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.
Release Date: October 15, 2014
Expiration Date: October 15, 2017
Renewed and Updated: 2020
New Expiration Date: October 15, 2023
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:
- Review the physiology and pathophysiology of male and female reproductive function.
- Review the principles of cell biology and molecular biology as it pertains to embryologists.
- Describe the key elements of the ART laboratory management and function.
- Identify basic and advanced techniques used in the ART laboratory.
- 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:
· View a course overview page, containing all CME and disclosure information, including acknowledgement of commercial support and disclosure of unlabeled use, prior to the start of each module.
· Complete a 10-question pre-exam prior to each module. Learners should note any pre-exam questions answered incorrectly for clarification during module study.
· Be given the option of downloading a printed syllabus containing the presentation and narrative.
· Participate in the interactive activity: Audio narration is synchronized with PowerPoint presentation that can be advanced, stopped or reversed as desired.
· Complete a 430-question post-exam, with feedback of correct/incorrect answers, scoring a minimum of 70% in two attempts.
· Complete the evaluation survey.
· Print certificate of completion.
DISCLOSURES FOR PLANNERS AND FACULTY
Planners
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Susan Gitlin, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
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Andrew R. La Barbera, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
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Richard H. Reindollar, MD: Nothing to Disclose
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Nancy Bowers, BSN, RN, MPH: Nothing to Disclose
Content Developers and Reviewers
§ Morgan Amick, BS: Nothing to Disclose
§ Anthony Anderson, DSc: Nothing to Disclose
§ Marlane Angle, PhD: Consultant: Previvo
§ C. Brent Barrett, PhD: Consultant: ReproSource Fertility Diagnostics
§ Charles Bormann, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Bruce Carr, MD: Grant/Research: AbbVie, Medicines 360; Speakers Bureau: Shionogi, Noven, Pfizer
§ Marcelle Cedars, MD: Grant/Research: Nora Therapeutics; Ferring Pharmaceuticals
§ Grace Centola, PhD: Consultant: New England Cryogenic Center; Cryos International-NY, Central Park Fertility
§ Carli Chapman, MS: Nothing to Disclose
§ Ri-Cheng Chian, PhD: Other: Cooper Surgical/SAGE Company
§ Susan Crockin, JD: Consultant: BMS, Merck, Prometheus; Advisory Board: GSK, CoStim, Aveo; Speakers Bureau: Pfizer Canada, BMS
§ Judith Daar, JD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Erma Drobnis, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Kathryn Go, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Kay Graff, MS: Consultant: Steptoe Therapeutics; Employee: Pelton & Crane
§ Elizabeth Grill, PsyD: SouthEastern Fertility: Speakers Bureau
§ Shalini Gunawardena, RN, BSN: Walgreen's Nursing Advisory Board
§ Lee Higdon, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Kristen Ivani, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Sangita Jindal, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Emily Jungheim, MD: Spouse is paid consultant: Abbvie, Genentech, Spectrum, Celgene; Speakers bureau: Genentech
§ Levent Keskintepe, DVM, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Ann Kiessling, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Rebecca Krisher, PhD: Grant/Research: Serono
§ Martin Langley, BS: Nothing to Disclose
§ Michael Lee, MS: Consultant: Cook Medical
§ Bruce Lessey, MD, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Dennis Matt, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ David McCulloh, PhD: Consultant: Infertility and IVF Medical Associates of Western NY; ReproART; Biogenetics Corporation; Employee: NYU Langone Medical Center
§ Peter McGovern, MD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Yves Menezo, DSc, PhD: Consultant: Nurilia
§ Z. Peter Nagy, MD, PhD: Direct stockholder: My Egg Bank; Paid consultant: Origio, Fertilitech; Speakers bureau: Merck MSD
§ Mike Neal, MSc: Nothing to Disclose
§ Fariba Nehchiri, MSc: Nothing to Disclose
§ Sergio Oehninger, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Kimball Pomeroy, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Thomas (Rusty) Pool, PhD: Other: Auxogyn
§ Marc Portmann, MHA, MT: Nothing to Disclose
§ Catherine Racowsky, PhD: Consultant: Nora Therapeutics
§ Michael Reed, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Lisa Rinehart, JD: Nothing to Disclose
§ William Roudebush, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Denny Sakkas, PhD: Consultant: Good Start Genetics; Other: Fertilitech, Origio
§ Mitchel Schiewe, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Ira Sharlip, MD: Consultant: Pfizer, Lilly, Absorption, Vyrix
§ Scott Smith, PhD: Product Review: Biocoat
§ Amy Sparks, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Laurel Stadtmauer, MD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Jason Swain, PhD: Consultant: Irvine Scientific
§ Tyl Taylor, MSc: Consultant; Spouse employed: Biodiseño
§ Helen Tempest, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ James Toner, MD, PhD: Speakers bureau: Merck
§ Nathan Treff, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Tom Turner, MS: Nothing to Disclose
§ Matthew VerMilyea, PhD: Consultant: Auxogyn, Irvine Scientific, Genea Biomedx
§ Michael Vernon, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Diane Wright, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
§ Hang Yin, PhD: Nothing to Disclose
It is the policy of the ASRM to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. All faculty/authors participating in this activity were required to disclose any relationships they may have with commercial entities whose products or services are used to treat patients so that participants may evaluate the objectivity of the presentations. The content and views presented in this activity are those of the faculty/authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ASRM. Any discussion of off-label, experimental, or investigational use of drugs or devices will also be disclosed. The disclosure statements were reviewed by the Subcommittee for Standards of Commercial Support of the CME Committee of ASRM and any perceived conflicts of interest were resolved in accordance with the policies of the ACCME.
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
No commercial support has been provided for this activity.