Freezer Malfunctions
Embryos are exposed to EG or 10% for longer than 10 minutes prior to placing in the freezer.
Exposing embryos to EG or 10% for more up to 45 minutes has resulted in similar pregnancy rates. While it is not ideal proceed like normal.
Stainless steel hemostats, forceps, or scissors can be used.
You spill your collection tube or dish all over the counter
Use a different syringe to aspirate up as much media as you can, add fluid to the spill to rinse/collect as much as you can.
You forgot a gun warmer.
Use yourself.
You will not be able to enter your paperwork in 24-48 hours from the time of implant
Phone a friend - I will try to help you as much as I can, but there are many PSEs and past PSEs who know the struggle and are willing to help.
Straws were not seeded prior to -10
Rapidly thaw, reset freezer to -6, and reseed
Only one fluid column was seeded.
Does not matter as long as there is one column seeded and the seed is NOT in the embryo column.
Your incubator malfunctions and is at 45 C
Thaw maturation tubes and place them in an aluminum block on the warm plate. Call and get a courier to bring you a different incubator.
If you do not have a block you can as a last resort use yourself. Keep tubes next to your skin.
Remind them that you have another embryo thawed, you need to get it implanted STAT.
You have 3 stops and finish 30 minutes late leaving your first stop of the day.
Call or text the other clients so they are aware, do this as soon as you know your behind so they do not have cattle standing in the chute long before you arrive.
Freezer is cooler than -8 when embryos are put into the cryochamber.
Rapid thaw and restart the freezer.
Cooling ramp is faster than 0.5
A ramp of 1.0-1.2 is okay (this is called a fast run) Still plunge at -32 as is usual
Your tokai will not turn on.
Search without, but search as quickly as you can.
You forgot a mating of your clients embryos and they were one of their top priorities.
See if a courier/other employee can bring them. If they can not explain the situation to the client, apologize perfusely and promise to bring them next run.
A donor cow has jumped out of the chute and is running towards you, you can save one thing do you save...
the Pump, the probe, or the ultrasound.
Save yourself firstly, if you have time take the ultrasound with you as it is the most expensive and hardest to fix.
Power fails on your freezer
If the temperature reaches -28, plunge them immediately.
If the temperature did not reach -28 immediately rapid thaw and restart the program. (Embryos WILL need to be evaluated upon thaw to determine viability - make note in Ovadrive)
Freezer is left at -32 for an extended amount of time
Embryos will continue to dehydrate if left at -32, embryos must be evaluated at thaw. (Make ovadrive note)
Your microscope light dies.
Use your phone for a light source, get someone to bring you a new bulb.
You only have 4 cows left and 5 fresh quality. You have two matings. R101 has a 7-1, and a 6-1. R103 has 2(7-1) and a 6-2. Which embryo do you want to save and freeze?
This is day 7 and it is nearing noon, you evaluated the embryos at 6am.
6-1
You drop a cane of embryos into the bottom of the tank.
Use a coat hanger or canes taped together to grab/tweezer it out of the bottom.
Freezer keeps dropping below -32
Plunge immediately and record the temperature at time of plunge. It is likely the embryos will not be viable.
Freezer runs out of nitrogen unoticed.
Observe if the temp has warmed up, if it is normal add more nitrogen. If the freezer has warmed up more than a few degrees you must thaw, reset, and repeat the whole freezing process.
You forget a cord for your microscope.
Check if the farm has something compatible, check the local hardware store or Walmart.
You miss a recipients ear tag number for paperwork.
Chase her down, walk in the pen and look for the embryo tag, ask the client for help, if you absolutely can not find her tell the client and make a note on your paperwork.
Your client decides to switch matings but you already have one thawed.
Let them know you must put this one in first, then you can switch.