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Embryology
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Andrology
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Endocrine
Cutting-edge
technologies in state-of-the-art facilities are available at the Family
Fertility Center. Our ART laboratories maintain the very highest standards of
excellence and are fully accredited since 1986 by the
College of American Pathologists - American Society for Reproduction
Medicine.
Our team of laboratory specialists are
board-certified by the American Board of Bioanalysts (A.B.B.).
Drs. Lee and Anderson are High Complexity Laboratory Directors (H.C.L.D.)
in both andrology and embryology.
Key features of our
laboratory:
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The
Lehigh Valley region's only triple-gas incubators for precise
control of the culture environment for embryos.
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HEPA-filtered,
humidity-controlled air handling system providing a high standard of
air quality.
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State-of-the-art
micromanipulation station with ICSI,
assisted-hatching and biopsy capabilities.
EMBRYOLOGY
LABORATORY SERVICES
In
Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF
is a process by which the eggs are retrieved from the ovary and
fertilized by sperm in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are then
transferred back into the woman’s womb (uterus) three to five days
later.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI
is a micromanipulation procedure performed in the laboratory whereby a single sperm is injected into each egg to achieve
fertilization. ICSI is the treatment of choice for male factor
infertility such as low sperm count or poor sperm motility.
Embryo Cryopreservation
Typically, two to three embryos are transferred into the uterus after
IVF or ICSI. Extra healthy embryos can be frozen for future attempts at
pregnancy.
Assisted Hatching (AH)
AH is
a micromanipulation procedure performed in the laboratory just
prior to the embryo transfer. During AH, a tiny opening is made in the
embryo’s shell (zona) to facilitate hatching. AH is indicated for
embryos with thick zona, and for embryos from woman who have elevated FSH, over the age of 38,
or with multiple failed IVF attempts.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
PGD
is performed three days after IVF or ICSI. A single cell is removed
from the embryo for genetic testing. PGD has been shown to reduce the
possibility of a genetically abnormal pregnancy and decrease the
incidence of spontaneous miscarriages.
Blastocyst Culture
Embryos
have traditionally been transferred three days after fertilization.
Over the last few years, commercially available embryo culture media
have been significantly improved to allow the culture time to be
extended an additional two days to the blastocyst stage of development.
When a patient has more than eight good quality embryos, this “extended
culture” allows the very best embryo or two to be selected for transfer
while minimizing the chance of high-order, multiple births.
ANDROLOGY LABORATORY
SERVICES
The
on-site andrology laboratory is equipped with a computer-assisted sperm
analyzer that is able to objectively quantitate not only sperm
concentration and motility, but also sperm velocity and morphology
(shape). Andrology services include the following:
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Complete Semen
Analysis
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Anti-sperm Antibody
Testing
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Computer-Assisted
Sperm Analysis (CASA)
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Sperm washing for
intra uterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)
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Semen freezing
prior to vasectomy or cancer treatment
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Computer-Assisted
morphology (shape of sperm) assessment
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Sperm Binding Assay
ENDOCRINE LABORATORY
SERVICES
An
integral part of successful infertility treatment is daily monitoring of
blood hormone levels. The endocrine laboratory at the Family Fertility
Center is equipped with latest model DPC Immulite 1000 machine, which
provides hormone results within two hours after a blood sample is
drawn. These fast and accurate results allow the clinical team to
quickly adjust medication regimes to optimize your cycle.
