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UK NEQAS launches new Reproductive Medicine Scheme

March 2011 | The United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) launches new Reproductive Medicine Scheme in cooperation with GameteExpert.

The new Reproductive Medicine Scheme will complement and enhance the established Andrology Scheme and recently launched Embryology Scheme of UK NEQAS.

The Andrology Scheme implies the well acquainted sperm motility and sperm morphology assessment.

The Embryology Scheme includes time-lapse videos captured from the EmbryoscopeTM incubator and rolling images from Cronus 3
TM for early cleaving to blastocyst stage embryo grading in combination with interpretive questions with ‘clinical scenarios’.


The Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) strongly endorses the Embryology Scheme:

‘ACE are committed to maintaining high standards of laboratory practice and the importance of external quality assurance.  Embryo selection is key to a successful program especially with regard to elective single embryo transfers. ACE has been fully supportive of the NEQAS embryo grading scheme and would strongly encourage laboratories to join.’   

Rachel Cutting. Association of Clinical Embryologists.


The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) commented:

‘Schemes such as this are a welcome addition in helping centres to improve the quality of the services they provide. Achieving consistency in embryo grading is likely to be a useful tool as centres aim to further reduce multiple birth rates. Guidance in the 8th Code of Practice also recommends that centres participate in inter-centre comparisons and inter-laboratory comparisons and that the results of these comparisons and relevant findings are used to improve treatment services.’

Debra Bloor. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.


 

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