CooperSurgical Virtual Course: QC in the IVF Laboratory

This course will provide a detailed overview of the different management tools and know-how for setting up a quality control and quality assurance system in an IVF laboratory. Procedures for validation and performance management of equipment and culture systems will be explained, including testing of air quality, pH, and temperature. Topics addressed include managing total quality in an IVF laboratory, traceability, stock management, process mapping, developing a standard operating procedure (SOP), organizing training of staff, as well as use of KPIs and audits in quality management.

Course objectives

• To understand how to monitor, calibrate, and validate equipment and the facility, including pH, temperature, and osmolality optimization of the culture system
• learn about handling and storage of consumables, including the need for control of inventory
• to understand how to implement a system for risk management and traceability, including electronic witnessing
• earn about quality control (external QC and internal QC), quality management, quality assurance, and KPIs.
• understand the need for training and monitoring of the performance of staff • learn about audits
• provide a forum to discuss the importance of quality control and management
  
  Target audience
  Quality Managers, IVF Unit Managers, IVF Lab Managers, Chief Embryologists, Clinical Embryologists, Lab Technicians, Clinical Directors, and Auditors who have a good understanding of the working of an ART laboratory and regulations that apply to ART laboratories in their country.
  
  Educational needs and expected outcomes
  The course aims to provide you with:
• monitoring, validation, and calibration of equipment and the facility
• stock management of consumables
• the implementation of risk management
• traceability and electronic witnessing
• audits
• internal and external Quality Control
• quality assurance, and KPIs
• training and monitoring of staff
• quality management
  
  Educational methods
• Lectures, discussions, exercises, quizzes.
  
  Minimal expertise required for participation in the course
  Participants must have experience working in an Andrology and/or IVF Laboratory. Participants must have a good understanding of the workings of an ART laboratory and the regulations and guidelines that apply to ART in their country.
  
  Language
  The official language of the course is English.
  
  Certificate of attendance
  Participants can obtain a certificate of attendance after completing the course evaluation at the end of the Course.
  
  What’s included?
• Attendance to the 3 modules, lectures, exercises, and Q&A sessions
• Syllabus of the Course
• Certificate of attendance