IVF Knowledge

If you work in an IVF laboratory, you already know that precision is everything. You also know that the terminology used to describe laboratory instruments is not always the precision instrument it should be. Stripping Pipette and Denuding Pipette — Meet Your Identical Twin Before an oocyte can undergo ICSI, it needs to be freed from the cloud of cumulus cells surrounding it. This pipette is called a stripping pipette in some labs, a denuding pipette in others. The terms are interchangeable. The instrument is identical. Three Biopsy Pipettes That Are Definitely Not Identical Polar body biopsy pipette: used to sample the polar body for oocyte genetic assessment. Fine bore, ~20–30 µm. Blastomere biopsy pipette: used on day 3 cleavage-stage embryos for PGT. ~30–40 µm. Trophectoderm biopsy pipette: used on day 5/6 blastocysts, the current gold standard for PGT in the UK. ~25–35 µm. Specialist Tools Worth Knowing The TESE pipette handles testicular sperm extraction. The zona dissectio...

  The MVE XC 47/11 is a 47 litre cryogenic storage tank designed for the long-term preservation of embryos, sperm, and other biological materials in IVF laboratories and research facilities. Its structure is engineered to ensure efficient liquid nitrogen retention, helping laboratories maintain stable storage conditions over extended periods. The model is widely used across the UK due to its balance of performance, durability, and reliability. Pricing for the MVE XC 47/11 in the UK can vary depending on configuration, accessories, and supply availability. Laboratories often request tailored quotations based on their specific requirements. Cryolab supplies MVE cryogenic tanks and provides support for IVF clinics and laboratories across the UK. Visit https://cryolab.co.uk for further details.

  We are excited to share that Cryolab will be exhibiting at ESHRE 2026, the world's leading reproductive medicine conference, taking place in London this year. As a UK specialist in cryogenic IVF equipment and consumables since 2000, ESHRE is the conference closest to our heart. It brings together embryologists, fertility specialists, lab scientists, and researchers from across the globe — exactly the community we have been proud to serve for over 25 years. This year we will be presenting our full product range including CryoStork® Dry Shippers, CBS Vitrification Kits, SpermScope® Cell Analysis Chambers, CryoNest® Storage Dewars, and our comprehensive range of IVF consumables and accessories. If you are attending ESHRE 2026, we would love to meet you. Come and see our products in person, speak with our team, and find out how Cryolab can support your laboratory's cryogenic supply needs. To book a meeting: info@cryolab.co.uk   |   01243 837177   |   cryol...

  If you work in a laboratory, biobank, IVF clinic or any setting involving cryogenic storage, choosing the right marker pen is one of those decisions that seems small until it isn't. The wrong pen costs you samples. The right pen costs you almost nothing. What to look for in a cryogenic marker pen: Temperature rating. Your pen must be rated to at least -196°C for liquid nitrogen storage and -80°C for ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers. Anything less and you're gambling. Ink permanence. The ink must be permanently bonded — not just "permanent" in the room-temperature sense. True cryogenic permanent ink stays bonded through extreme cold and multiple freeze-thaw cycles without flaking or fading. Alcohol resistance. Labs disinfect constantly. Your marker needs to withstand ethanol wipes and solvent-based cleaning without the writing disappearing. Tip precision. Fine tip is almost always the right choice for lab applications. Cryovials, microtubes and sample ...

We are delighted to share some exciting news - a remarkable conservation charity working to cryopreserve the genetic material of endangered species before it is too late.  Nature's SAFE runs a frozen wildlife biorepository, safeguarding biological samples from some of the world's most threatened animals. The CryoStork® V10 will help them transport these precious specimens safely in the field, without the need for free liquid nitrogen.  In the words of our Director, Sian Louise Barker: "Their commitment to the conservation and long-term cryopreservation of endangered species is nothing short of inspiring."  If you are a partner, distributor, or organisation that works with cryogenic equipment and would like to explore supporting Nature's SAFE, please reach out to us or visit them directly. Every piece of equipment matters.   Learn more at cryolab.co.uk    #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies #Cryogenics #NaturesSAFE #CryoStork #Biodiversity 

  For decades, sperm motility has been assessed manually under a microscope. While this method is widely used, it has clear limitations. Human observation introduces variability, fatigue, and subjective interpretation. CASA systems have changed this by using imaging technology and software algorithms to analyse sperm movement objectively. These systems evaluate thousands of sperm in seconds, providing consistent and repeatable results. As IVF demands increase, automation is becoming essential for modern andrology laboratories. 👉 Read more: https://cryolab.co.uk/sperm-motility-analysis-equipment/

  If you're an embryologist, a fertility nurse, or a clinic manager who wants a clear explanation without the lecture, here it is. A vitrification carrier is the small device that holds an egg (or embryo) during the ultrarapid freezing process that is vitrification. The carrier matters because how quickly the sample cools determines whether ice crystals form. No crystals = surviving cells. The carrier needs to hold a tiny volume so the cooling is fast enough. The warming protocol is the carefully choreographed process of getting the egg out of vitrified storage and back to a state where it can be fertilised. You remove the cryoprotectants through a series of dilution steps while managing the osmotic shift to avoid rupturing the membrane. Do it wrong and the egg doesn't survive. Do it right and survival rates are consistently above 80%. The practical takeaway: use a matched vitrification and warming kit. The kits are designed and validated together. Mixing brands or improv...

  Let's be real: most people only google 'what is sperm cryopreservation' after a doctor has just mentioned it to them, which means they're probably sitting in a car park somewhere trying to absorb information quickly. So here's the clearest version possible. Sperm cryopreservation means freezing sperm cells in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius so they can be stored and used later. Before freezing, the sperm is analysed (concentration, movement, shape) and mixed with a protective solution that stops ice crystals from destroying the cells. It's then cooled at a carefully controlled rate and stored until n eeded. Why does it matter? Because it lets people preserve fertility before chemotherapy, before deployments, before vasectomy, before the years when sperm quality naturally declines. Frozen samples stored properly can remain viable for decades. When it's time to use the sample, it's thawed, assessed again, and prepared for IVF, ICSI, or inse...

If you work in an IVF lab or manage a research facility with cryogenic storage requirements, you have probably stood in front of a liquid nitrogen vessel at some point and quietly wondered if there is something better out there. Spoiler: there usually is. Cryolab makes two distinct families of LN2 storage vessels, and they are built for quite different jobs. CryoNest® Series available in 95-litre (XL), 145-litre (XXL), and 175-litre (XXXL) configurations is for labs that need scale. High sample volumes, multiple clinicians accessing the vessel throughout the day, long-term storage of embryos, oocytes, and sperm across a large patient base. The proprietary internal rack system means up to 30 compartments of organised, accessible storage in a footprint that would surprise you. Explore it at cryolab.co.uk/product-category/storage-vessels/ CryoCan Series three models: the 30-6, 47-6, and 47-10 is for labs where compactness matters as much as capacity. The 30-litre CryoCan 30-6 fits i...

If you work in fertility medicine, cell banking, or biological research in the UK, you've probably wrestled with the question of which dry shipper to trust with your most critical samples. After looking at what's available from cheap imports to premium research-grade dry shippers — the CryoStork by Cryolab stands out for a few specific reasons that matter in clinical practice. First, the hold time is genuinely reassuring. Extended hold means extended margin for error when logistics go sideways (and they do). Second, IATA P650 compliance is properly documented — not just claimed. Third, and maybe most importantly for UK-based users: there's an actual support team you can reach who understands cryogenics, not just a returns portal. Dry shipper price will always be a factor in procurement decisions. But when the cost of a failed shipment can run to tens of thousands in lost samples, clinic liability, or patient harm the conversation changes. Worth enquiring: cryolab.co.uk

Most IVF labs do not have a liquid nitrogen problem. They have a system problem. Tanks, vessels, dewars: that equipment works. What creates friction are the cryogenic accessories around it. Missing gloves. Disorganised canes. A storage vessel that made sense when patient volume was lower and now slows everything down. Cryolab recently published a proper breakdown of what a well-functioning cryogenic lab system looks like. It covers liquid nitrogen storage vessels (including 20L dewars and high-capacity CryoNest options for larger programmes), sperm analysis equipment for UK labs, CBS High Security Vitrification Kits, oocyte vitrification carriers, and safety wear including cryogenic gloves in four lengths and liquid nitrogen face shields. Worth reading if you manage, procure for, or work in an IVF or reproductive medicine lab. Full article here: Cryogenic Accessories, Storage Vessels & Lab Supplies for IVF

A study published in Fertility and Sterility suggests otherwise at least for one specific part of the process. Researchers at Columbia University developed a robot called APRIL to prepare the microdroplet culture dishes used to sustain embryos. When they compared APRIL against manual preparation in a prospective randomised trial, the robot was ten times more precise. The study's lead author, Dr Zev Williams, directs what Newsweek ranked as America's number one fertility clinic. He makes the point plainly: skilled hands still introduce variability. APRIL removes that variability from one step. Other systems Conceivable Life's AURA, Overture Life's DaVitri are tackling other steps. The automation is coming in layers, not all at once. For embryologists, the job does not disappear. It concentrates on what machines cannot do: reading a cycle, making a call, being present for a family.  Full article here: https://cryolab.co.uk/april-robot-ivf-laboratory-embryo-culture-dishes/

When most people think about IVF lab equipment, they think about the big-ticket items — the incubators, the microscopes, the nitrogen tanks. What rarely gets discussed are the small things that prevent large problems. I am talking about cryocanes, cryosleeves, visotubes, and cane coders. These four products form the organisational layer of cryogenic storage. They are not glamorous, but they are what the system runs on. A cryocane holds your samples in position inside the liquid nitrogen canister. The cryosleeve protects the loaded cane during handling — that brief moment when you pull it up and out. The visotube is the transparent container that keeps your straw visible and organised. And the coder tells you, at a glance, which cane holds which group of samples without exposing anything unnecessarily to room temperature. Used properly, these four things together mean faster retrievals, lower sample exposure times, and a colour-coded system that any embryologist can read immediately....

 Oocyte denudation the mechanical removal of cumulus oophorus and corona radiata cells preceding ICSI  is a universal laboratory procedure yet one of the least formally standardised steps in assisted reproduction. Governance frameworks that now comprehensively cover culture media, incubation, and cryopreservation have largely not been extended to denudation technique. Current Evidence The meiotic spindle presents the primary area of concern. Located at the first polar body, the MII spindle is both invisible under conventional light microscopy and sensitive to mechanical disruption. Polscope studies have associated aggressive mechanical stripping with measurable spindle displacement and downstream chromosomal consequences. Hyaluronidase exposure duration represents a second variable. Published data supports brief, timed exposure typically 20–40 seconds over visually guided, open-ended treatment. Labs implementing exposure limits report improvements in oocyte survival and fe...

  So you need cryogenic storage. Google sends you down a rabbit hole of specifications that might as well be written in Klingon. Here's the translation nobody provides. The Size Question Everyone Gets Wrong "How many litres do I need?" is the wrong question. The right question: "How many straws am I storing and how often do I access them?" A 20-litre dewar theoretically holds 800+ embryo straws. But if you're opening it eight times daily for IVF retrievals, you need the 30L or 47L models to maintain temperature stability. Constant lid-opening causes nitrogen boil-off beyond the static evaporation rate. Cryolab's calculator actually factors this in—you input daily access frequency and it adjusts capacity recommendations accordingly. Vitrification Carriers Aren't All Created Equal Tried buying "compatible" vitrification carriers on eBay? Yeah, don't. Cooling rate depends on minimal solution volume and precise geometry. Off-brand car...

Bovine semen preservation is a cornerstone of modern veterinary practice and livestock breeding in the UK. Veterinary laboratories and IVF clinics rely on high-quality bovine semen storage tanks to maintain sample viability for artificial insemination and research purposes. Liquid nitrogen storage vessels provide long-term protection, while dry shippers ensure samples can be transported safely between sites. Dry shippers retain nitrogen in a solid absorbent material, maintaining ultra-low temperatures without spillage, while LN₂ dewars, available in twenty-litre and fifty-litre capacities, offer reliable stationary storage. Cryogenic accessories, including gloves, face shields, cryovials, and storage racks, complement these vessels and ensure safe laboratory handling. By carefully selecting the appropriate storage tanks based on capacity, intended use, and safety features, UK laboratories can preserve bovine semen efficiently. For professional cryogenic storage solutions, visit Cryolab...