CREA RECEIVES THE AWARD FOR THE BEST CLINICAL RESEARCH PROJECT AT A NATIONAL LEVEL DURING THE 4TH CONGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY
The Assisted Reproduction Medical Centre Clinical Embryology team from CREA in Valencia, received the award for the best clinical research project during the 4th congress of the Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR), held in Bilbao from 21st to 23rd of November.
The research, presented by the embryologist Empar Ferrer, outlined the two-year CREA experience in human embryo vitrification. The Valencian clinic has been the first at a national level to use vitrification specifically as their only method of low-temperature embryonic preservation.
Unlike conventional embryonic freezing used by the majority of assisted reproduction clinics all over the world, the use of this method has meant a great advance, not only regarding safety because of reduced risks, but also when dealing with its effectiveness. In fact, it improves the results in embryonic implantation and chances of pregnancy.
While cryopreservation in Liquid Nitrogen vapours cools down the embryos slowly and gradually, vitrification causes the temperature to fall drastically at a speed of 15.000 C per minute. This sudden cooling avoids the formation of crystals inside the cells, which may occur with slow freezing. This is the reason why with slow cooling it is more usual for embryos to be damaged and lose their ability to implant. To carry out this fast procedure, the laboratory must count on a system designed perfectly so as to avoid errors along with highly trained staff.
Embryologists from many Spanish clinics have already visited CREA’s laboratory to learn this technique. The national award given by ASEBIR is public recognition acknowledging the quality service provided by this assisted reproduction centre. It highlights the constant changes and achievements taking place in this exciting field of medicine, offering better results day after day to infertile patients.
