for the Reproductive Laboratory Technologists Professional Group.  Membership in the RLTPG is free for ASRM Members.  If you'd like to become a member of the RLTPG, tell us.

The Reproductive Laboratory Technologists Professional Group (RLTPG) is a professional group within the American Society for Reproductive Medicine comprised of embryologists, andrologists, laboratory scientists, physicians and other professionals that are interested in the following objectives: 

RLTPG Objectives:

• To promote the study of reproductive biology

• To advance the technologies utilized in reproductive medicine

• To represent the viewpoint of laboratory personnel performing embryology and andrology functions, as well as other services related to infertility

• To offer a forum for debate on technical issues

• To foster the development of a network among laboratories by encouraging the exchange of information and perspectives

• To ensure the availability of well-trained technical staff by promoting standardized training and continuing education.

Current RLTPG officers

• Chair - Alexis R. Adler, B.A. 

• Vice Chair - Mark P.D. Dow, Ph.D. 

• Past Chair - Michael L. Reed, Ph.D. 

• Program Chair - Michael A. Lee, M.S., TS, ELD 

• Information Chair - Michael S. Stahler, Ph.D.

• Website Coordinator - Alexis R. Adler, B.A. 

• 2009 PG Course Chair - Alexis R. Adler, B.A.

Of Interest to Members

• Message from the Chair

• RBPG/RLTPG Spring 2009 Newsletter (PDF)

• RBPG/RLTPG Fall 2008 Newsletter (PDF) 

• Salary Survey Results (PDF): 2008 | 2006 | 2004 | 2000

• RLTPG Bylaws (PDF 38Kb)

Message from the Chair

The recent news of the birth of a set of octuplets in Southern California begs us to address the ongoing issue of multiple births from the use of reproductive technologies. We are all aware that such high order births while rare, does not endear us to the general public reading about these events in the unregulated arena of media today. The media spectacle that inevitably occurred around these births appears, at least to the public, to be a result of a field of medicine that is totally unregulated and irresponsible. The field of reproductive medicine may in fact be more regulated than most clinical areas in light of the SART/CDC reporting system. This information is invaluable for patients making clinic choices.

I was honored to chair this year’s RLTPG postgraduate course presented in San Francisco entitled Darwin in the Laboratory on blastocyst culture. The topics covered by myself, Klaus Wiemer, Caroline McCaffrey and Marius Meintjes ranged from the basic biology of blastocysts to morphologic determination, different cryopreservation options were discussed and statistics presented as well as possible directions in which to enable embryologists to extend culture in their own laboratory, including single embryo transfer. Many countries are far more advanced than we are here in the U.S. with mandatory limits already in place.

This event in California provides us in the field of A.R.T. an opportunity to be proactive regarding how we should manage medical practice in our field. Even a single baby born prematurely facing life-long complications due to high order multiple gestation caused by us transferring too many embryos to a patient, is too many. And the incredible costs to society in precious health care dollars spent providing medical care for these babies is prohibitive. As our new President is asking us to do, it is time for us to step up and be responsible!

--Alexis Adler, B.S.

Membership

for the Reproductive Laboratory Technologists Professional Group.  Membership in the RLTPG is free for ASRM Members.  If you'd like to become a member of the RLTPG, tell us.

If you would like more information regarding the RLTPG, please contact: 

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