IVF & Embryology Lab at TRIO
In addition to the breadth and expertise of your fertility team, the assisted reproductive technology (ART) lab plays an essential role in supporting your fertility journey. At TRIO, we have the longest-running on-site IVF lab in Canada. It’s one of the many ways that we help our patients have the best chances of success in growing their families.State-of-the-Art IVF Lab
There are multiple factors that go into creating a leading IVF lab, which is designed to support embryo growth and development. These include, but are not limited to the following factors:Lab Director and Team
TRIO has the most experienced team of embryologists in Canada. Several members of our team have been doing IVF from the very beginning, when the procedure was first offered in Canada in the mid 1980’s; as well as ICSI, from the time it was first pioneered. In addition to its notable experience, TRIO also has one of the largest embryology/andrology teams, with more than 15 members working in the onsite lab.
Precision Care and Control
We are precise about processes, quality control and all aspects of embryology. When we take your egg from the follicular fluid, we carefully put it into a sterile dish. Then, we gently wash it and we put it directly into an incubator. Since it has been taken from its natural environment, our job is to make sure that we decrease any stress on an egg. We do this by mimicking the inside of the body as much as we can. The inside of the incubator we put your egg into is warm and humid, and we use a nutritive media to nourish eggs and embryos.
Leading Quality Equipment
TRIO’s lab is a one hundred percent time lapse facility. This means our equipment is much safer for your embryos as they can be observed without being disturbed or removed from their environment during development. Our technological capabilities — including spindleview, assisted hatching, embryo biopsy, high powered microscope micromanipulation, and more -- give our embryologists an edge: they are able to work with eggs, sperm and embryos in high definition, providing a maximized quality of care.
Safety and Security
We take all elements of patient identification very seriously, and we use sophisticated technology to ensure this. — We create a unique identification number for each patient, as well as a bar coding system associated with each patient’s name, unique identification number and a designated barcode. Barcode labels with unique identification numbers are placed on each dish or tube that comes into contact with eggs, sperm and embryos. And we verify the bar codes before each procedure by scanning them to ensure accuracy. We account for all eggs, sperm and embryos 100 percent of the time.
Dedicated Air-Filtration System
TRIO’s lab has a dedicated air handling system that ensures an optimal environment for your eggs, and embryos. . The sophisticated equipment and HEPA filtration deliver surgical grade air quality and 45 air changes per hour, filtering out VOC’s (volatile organic compounds such as chemicals, fumes, toxins), and other particles, including viruses and bacteria.
Leading Practices & Protocols
In addition to their extensive education and experience, TRIO’s embryologists have achieved certification through the CFAS. Our lab director was on the committee that developed this certification, which is focused on specific lab competency objectives for embryologists in Canadian labs.
Temperature Control
All of the equipment in our lab is kept at precisely 37 degrees centigrade, or body temperature. This is optimal for your eggs and embryos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the TRIO lab different from other labs?
How do I know my frozen eggs and embryos will be safe in the lab?
Will I have access to the TRIO lab even though I am monitoring at one of your satellites clinics?
How do I know if I need the additional technologies above and beyond standard IVF?
Patient Stories
