Artisan collects a number of quality metrics to assess laboratory performance. This data may be tracked to provide ongoing quality control.

 

 

Embryo Scoring System

 

 

Dr. Robert Edwards described a simple system for assigning a numeric score to embryos to compare embryo quality.

• "A" grade embryos are those embryos associated with optimal implantation and pregnancy rates.

• "B" grade embryos are morphologically inferior embryos that good implantation and pregnancy success.

• "C" grade embryos exhibit developmental delay and/or marked fragmentation and cellular irregularity and are expected to have little or no chance of initiating a pregnancy.

 

 

Embryo scores are calculated by multiplying the number of cells by the point value for the embryo grade (A = 6, B = 3, C = 0).

For instance, a 9 cell grade A embryo would be assigned a score of 9 cells x 6 points = 54.

A similar scoring system is employed to rate day 5 embryos.

 

 

Define Embryo Quality Scores As Part of Setting Up Your Center's Embryo Grading System

 

Navigation

 

To access the Embryo Grading System, select Lab Manager from the navigational tools.

 

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Click the Embryo Grading System link in the Lab Manager Menu.

 

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The Quality Control Tab has a column for Embryo Quality on the Day 3 and Day 5/6.

Use the pull down menu to rate each embryo description as "A", "B", or "C" Embryo Quality. Repeat this process on the Day 5/6 tab.

These designations will be used to calculate an embryo score for each embryo entered in your lab notes.

 

 

Automatic Calculation of Mean Embryo Score From Your Lab Notes

 

Artisan calculates an Embryo Score for each day 3 and day 5 embryo entered in the notes. For instance, the 10 cell embryo shown in line #1 would be classed as grade "A", thus the embryo score would be 10 x 6 = 60 points.

A summary of embryo quality for the case and quality metrics are displayed on the Quality Control tab.

 

 

Important quality metrics displayed on this layout include:

• % fertilization

• day 3 mean embryo score for the entire cohort of embryos (total embryo score/number of 2PN embryos).

• day 3 % high quality embryos (number of "A" grade embryos/number of 2PN embryos).

• day 5 mean embryo score.

• day 5 % high quality embryos.

You may manually track this information to monitor lab quality.