For millions of couples worldwide, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the key to conceiving a child. But behind the seemingly simple concept - fertilization in the laboratory, transfer back into the uterus - lies a highly complex medical process chain in which cryopreservation is playing an increasingly central role.
Whether it is the storage of surplus embryos, the social freezing of eggs for a later desire to have children or the preservation of sperm before chemotherapy - in each of these scenarios, the quality of the cryotechnology is the decisive factor between hope and disappointment.
Consarctic® has been working closely with leading IVF centers in Germany and Europe for years and understands the specific requirements of this highly sensitive application. In this article, we show how modern cryotechnology provides reproductive physicians with the tools to optimally support their patients' desire to have children.
In reproductive medicine, there are basically two methods of cryopreservation available, which are justified depending on the cell type and clinical context.
Controlled freezing uses a controlled rate freezer to gradually lower the temperature at a defined rate - typically at -0.3°C to -1°C per minute. The BIOFREEZE® devices from Consarctic® are optimized for this method. Your advantage: complete control over the cooling curve, reproducibility and GMP-compliant documentation.
Vitrification is a method in which the cells are cooled in fractions of a second - so quickly that no ice crystals can form. Instead, the solution changes directly into a glassy (vitreous) state. This method has proven to be very successful for egg cells and blastocysts in particular and is now used as a standard method in many IVF centers.
Whether a patient wants to store her eggs for five or fifteen years - cryostorage must offer absolute safety over the entire period.
A cryogenic container in which egg cells or embryos are stored is no ordinary laboratory item. It must meet the highest requirements in terms of insulation, tightness and reliability. The Consarctic® tanks of the ABV+ and ABS+ series are made of high-quality stainless steel and offer vacuum insulation that reduces daily nitrogen consumption to a minimum.
In an IVF laboratory, hundreds or thousands of individual samples - from just as many patients - are often stored in parallel. Mixing up a single sample would have catastrophic consequences. That's why Consarctic® offers sophisticated cryo set-up systems with individual racks, cassettes and labeling systems that ensure complete traceability.
More and more women are opting to have their eggs frozen at a young age in order to keep the option of pregnancy open at a later date. This trend - known as social freezing - has massively increased the demand for high-quality cryostorage in recent years.
For IVF centers, this means They need more storage capacity, higher safety standards and a more efficient infrastructure. Consarctic® supports clinics in scaling their capacities - from planning new storage rooms to selecting the right tank sizes and installing automatic liquid nitrogen supply.
In an IVF laboratory, where every single sample holds the potential of a new life, a seamless monitoring system is mandatory.
Consarctic® offers a 24/7 emergency service 365 days a year. Should a problem occur, our technicians will be on site within hours to secure the samples.
Cryotechnology in reproductive medicine is more than the art of engineering - it is a service to the human desire to have children. Every egg cell, every embryo that is safely cryopreserved carries the hope of a family.
Would you like to equip your IVF center with the latest cryogenic technology or expand your existing infrastructure? Our team of experts will advise you personally and work with you to develop a tailor-made solution that combines safety and efficiency.