If you would like to discuss these or any other topics with Klaus Wiemer, PhD, please contact him. He would be glad to get back in touch with you by phone (866-332-8126) or if you would like to email your question directly to embryo This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The laboratories associated with in fertility treatment are often the least understood portion of the entire process in helping our patients have a child. There is little information available that is aimed at helping the patient understand what the differences are in fertility laboratories. For instance infertility laboratories can be classified into 3 sections based upon their roles:

1) The NCRS Endocrinology Lab focuses on female diagnostics. For example, we check how patients are responding to medications by measuring their hormone levels in the Endocrinology Lab. In this lab, we can also get a comprehensive picture of how a woman’s ovaries are going to respond to treatment. It gives us a great idea of her “reproductive age”. Reproductive age is not only based on chronological age but also the health and function of the reproductive system as well as hormone levels which are used to estimate the number of eggs in a women’s ovaries. To learn more about the different stages of reproductive age http://www.pregnancy.org/article/your-real-reproductive-age. Having the endocrinology lab within our facilities allows us to have much tighter standards and deliver test results to our patients the same day in most cases.

2) The NCRS Andrology Lab encompasses male diagnostics. We know that having a baby takes two so we have a comprehensive andrology lab on site where we can fully study a man’s sperm health. Our Andrology lab experts can determine whether sperm have normal shape, function and number. With that information, we can determine your treatment options. This is important because if the sperm count is low or the sperm do not function properly, treatment options include the more expensive technique of injecting sperm directly into a mature egg, a process called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

What makes our andrology lab unique?

• Our Andrology laboratory personnel are specialty trained in all aspects of andrology testing.
• Unlike other laboratory testing centers, andrology is our main focus.
• Our laboratory has very a strict quality control and quality assurance program to insure that test results are accurate and true.
• Unlike other testing facilities we provide an evaluation and recommendations for patients, not just test results.

3) The embryology lab is one of the major determinants of success for an IVF patient. It is also the least standardized and understood aspect of infertility treatment, which is why long-term experience is essential in many disciplines. Today, embryologists must have a comprehensive understanding of chemistry, reproductive endocrinology, and embryology.

Our expert embryologist, Klaus Wiemer has deep background in all three areas. He has dedicated over 20 years to improving oocyte quality and embryo culture conditions.

In order to create embryos of the highest quality, one must start with the best oocytes possible and then have the best culture conditions (conditions where the egg becomes a zygote and develops into an embryo. This includes everything including culture medium to environment) for the embryos to develop in. “We have made a commitment by participating in ongoing research to understand what it takes to improve embryo quality by collaborating with top IVF centers and researchers all over the world,” Wiemer said. For example, we have improved blastocyst freezing rates using a new technology called vitrification. By improving embryo freezing rates, we can increase the overall efficiency of an IVF cycle. We also continue to collaborate with Scientists from Reprogenetics to better understand the genetic and molecular aspect of human embryos.

Wiemer knows that the heart and soul of any embryology lab are its culture conditions. For example, he has gone to great lengths to create a biological clean room for the embryos to develop within. The air in the lab is literally scrubbed of contaminants to ensure the embryos have a pristine environment to optimize development.

Embryology Facts: Did you know?

Wiemer and his staff of embryologists have developed criteria that help them select embryos of higher quality. For instance:

1. Embryos that divide early following fertilization have a higher likelihood of developing to blastocysts for transfer or vitrification.
2. Speaking of vitrification, did you know that embryologist at NCRS have vitrified over 1600 blastocysts?
3. Embryos that are 4 cells 48 hours after retrieval are often better then embryos which are slower or which are dividing too fast.
4. Embryos on day three where the cells begin to show signs of adhering to each other (compaction) produce higher quality blastocysts.
5. Cell type and grades that make up the blastocyst affect the ability. That is why success rates can vary so much between centers. Not all blastocysts are created equal!
6. Did you know that the stimulation protocol used to create eggs used in IVF can greatly affect outcomes? The protocols in use at NCRS were developed by Wiemer over a course of ten years and several thousand egg retrievals. These protocols are tailored to each patient to create the best oocytes possible.

If you would like to discuss these or any other topics with Klaus Wiemer, please contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it