The American Society for Reproductive Medicine sponsors Professional Enrichment Education Renewal (PEER) credit through the American Board of Bioanalysis.    This activity has been pre-approved by the American Board of Bioanalysis for 30.50 PEER credits under course number 66472. 

To claim PEER credits:

1.       Complete the course

2.       Complete post-course evaluation:

a.       Fill in all required fields.

b.       If you hold a Florida license and plan to claim ABB PEER credits, be sure to include your license information in the required fields at the end of the evaluation.

3.       ASRM will submit all learner completions to ABB for issuance of PEER credits. PEER credits are posted within 30 days of completion.

ABB issues PEER credits directly; ASRM certificates or transcripts cannot be used to claim credits with ABB.

Release Date:  October 15, 2014

Expiration Date: December 30, 2025

Reviewed and Updated: March 1, 2026

Expiration Date: March 1, 2028

Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 30.75 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 Essentials 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 and Embryology Basics 

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

6.       DNA/Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression

7.        Epigenetics

8.        OMICS 101

Culture Media and Laboratory Environment

9.        The IVF Laboratory

10.      Quality Control

11.     Culture Media and Conditions, Part 1 

12.     Culture Media and Conditions, Part 2

13.     Microbial Contamination of IVF Cultures

Embryology Laboratory Procedures and Techniques 

14.      Ovarian Stimulation Protocols

15.      Oocyte Retrieval

16.      Semen Collection

17.      Preparation and Selection of Sperm for IVF and ICSI

18.      In Vitro Fertilization

19.      Changeover Day Fertilization Assessment

20.      Cleavage-Stage Embryo Grading

21.      Blastocyst Development and Grading

22.      Time-lapse Imaging Morphometry (TLIM)

23.      Embryo transfer

24.      In Vitro Maturation

Embryo Testing, Biopsy, and Genetics 

25.      Embryo Biopsy

26.      Preimplantation Genetic Testing

27.      Mosaicism in Humans

Cryopreservation Science and Management

28.      Cryopreservation

29.       Vitrification

30.       Management of Cryopreserved Gametes and Embryos

IVF Laboratory Operations and Risk Management

31.       Infectious Disease

32.      Laboratory Safety

33.      Troubleshooting

34.      Minimizing and Tracking Errors in the ART Laboratory

35.      Emergency Planning

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 acknowledgment of any commercial support and disclosure of unlabeled use. 

·        Complete a 10-question pre-exam prior to each module. Learners should note any pre-exam questions answered incorrectly for clarification during module study.   

·        Participate in the interactive activity: audio narration is synchronized with lesson materials and can be advanced, stopped, or reversed as desired.

·        Complete a post-exam after each lesson 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

Stephanie Nichols-Burns, M.S, P.H.D, HCLD: Nothing to Disclose

Sarah Ramaiah, PhD, MSEd: Nothing to Disclose

Chevis N. Shannon, DrPH, MBA, MPH, MERC: Nothing to Disclose

Jeffery Hayes, PhD: Nothing to Disclose

Maina Gvakharia, M.D., PhD: Nothing to Disclose

Content Developer and Reviewers

Kausi Sellakkannu, MD, ELD, TS: Nothing to Disclose

Charlene Alouf, PhD HCLD MBA:  Invitae - Direct Stockholder (Self); Invitae - Full-Time Company Employee (Self); Genomic Prediction - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Renato De Mayrinck Salgado, Ph.D.:   Spring Fertility (Self)- Full-Time Company Employee

Denny Sakkas, PH.D.:      Legacy - Options (Self); TMRW - Options (Self); AUTOIVF - Options (Self); EMD Serono - Speaker's Bureau (Self); ALIFE - Options (Self); Intelon - Options (Self); Vitrolife - Honoraria (Self); Vitrolife - Speaker's Bureau (Self)

Arthur Chang, PH.D., HCLD, ELD: Nothing to Disclose

Cengiz Cinnioglu, PH.D.:  NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Direct Stockholder (Self); NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Company Officer (Self); NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Murat Basar, PH.D.: Nothing to Disclose

Kristen  Ivani, PH.D.: IVF Store - Sci Advisory Board (Self)

Salustiano Ribeiro, MS: Nothing to Disclose

Kurshith Thameen, MS, TS: Reproductive Sciences Medical Center - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Rhodel  Simbulan, PH.D.: Nothing to Disclose

Olga Chaplia, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Cihan Halicigil, PH.D., H.C.L.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Scott Purcell, PH.D.:  PS Fertility - Paid Consultant (Self)

Yifei Liu, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Yining Li, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Stephanie Nichols-Burns, M.S, P.H.D, HCLD: Nothing to Disclose

Navid Esfandiari, PH.D., HCLD:  Nothing to Disclose

Lisa Wagner, PhD, MS, BS: Cooper Surgical - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Diego     Marin, PH.D, HCLD:  Genomic Prediction Inc. - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Mitchel Schiewe, M.S.,Ph.D.:  California Fertility Partners - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

James Stachecki, PH.D.:  Innovative Cryo Enterprise II LLC - Company Officer (Self)

Steve Mullen, BS:  Xeno Diagnostics - Part-time employee (Self)

Juergen Liebermann, M.SC.,PH.D.; HCLD:  Fertility Centers of Illinois / US Ferti - Full-Time Company Employee (Self); Cooper - KOL (Self); Nexpring - KOL (Self)

Kimball Pomeroy, PH.D.: Ivy Fertility - Company Officer (Self); Ivy Fertility - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Don Fish, BS:  IVF CRYO - Company Officer (Self); IVF CRYO - Direct Stockholder (Self); IVF CRYO - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Melanie Clemmer, H.C.L.D, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Amy Sparks, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Reshel Tal, MD, PhD:  Nothing to Disclose

Speakers/Presenters

Jasmyn Johal, MD:  Nothing to Disclose

Kausi Sellakkannu,MD, ELD, TS:  Nothing to Disclose

Charlene Alouf, PhD HCLD MBA Invitae - Direct Stockholder (Self); Invitae - Full-Time Company Employee (Self); Genomic Prediction - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Olga Chaplia, PH.D.:  Nothing to Disclose

Cengiz Cinnioglu, PH.D.:  NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Direct Stockholder (Self); NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Company Officer (Self); NextGen Genetics MSO, LLC - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Kurshith Thameen, MS, TS: Reproductive Sciences Medical Center - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Kimball Pomeroy, PH.D.:  Ivy Fertility - Company Officer (Self); Ivy Fertility - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Kristen  Ivani, PH.D.: IVF Store - Sci Advisory Board (Self)

Stephanie Nichols-Burns, M.S, P.H.D, HCLD: Nothing to Disclose

Navid Esfandiari, PH.D., HCLD:  Nothing to Disclose

Arthur Chang, PH.D., HCLD, ELD:   Nothing to Disclose

James Stachecki, PH.D.:  Innovative Cryo Enterprise II LLC - Company Officer (Self)

Mitchel Schiewe, M.S.,Ph.D.:  California Fertility Partners - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

Juergen Liebermann, M.SC.,PH.D.; HCLD:  Fertility Centers of Illinois / US Ferti - Full-Time Company Employee (Self); Cooper - KOL (Self); Nexpring - KOL (Self)

Don Fish, BS:  IVF CRYO - Company Officer (Self); IVF CRYO - Direct Stockholder (Self); IVF CRYO - Full-Time Company Employee (Self)

(*contributed to the original course only)

Planners

*Susan Gitlin, PhD: Ownership/Stock: Merck; Walgreen Company

*Andrew R. La Barbera, PhD: Nothing to Disclose

*Richard H. Reindollar, MD: Nothing to Disclose

*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 ASRM to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. All faculty/speakers participating in this activity are required to disclose any relationships they may have with companies whose products or services could be mentioned, allowing participants to determine the objectivity of the presentations. The content and views presented in this activity are those of the faculty/speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of ASRM. Any discussion of the off-label, experimental, or investigational use of drugs or devices is not allowed. The disclosure statements were reviewed by the CME Subcommittee and the Executive Program Committee of ASRM, and any perceived conflicts of interest were resolved in accordance with the ACCME’s policies and Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. 

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT 

No commercial support has been provided for this activity.