Ovum Pickup

Agtech’s intensive 2-day course in ovum pick-up (OPU) provides you with a foundation of knowledge and hands-on skills for successful implementation of oocyte aspiration and lab techniques within your own dairy or beef herd, or if you plan to offer OPU services to your clients.

2024 Class Dates

  • To be determined. Please complete the Inquiry Form below or chat with us for more details!

Class is from 8:00am – 6:00pm on the first day and 7:00am - 1:00pm on the second day. A list of suggested hotels will be provided upon registration receipt. Manhattan’s regional airport (MHK) offers daily direct jet service to/from Chicago (ORD) and Dallas (DFW) airports via American Airlines. Agtech’s training center is conveniently located 15 minutes from Manhattan’s airport.

Course Highlights

Classroom : 20% of the workshop hours focus on theory and facts of OPU / IVF including:

  • Physiological aspects of OPU/IVF
  • Techniques / tips for successful OPU
  • Equipment selection
  • Equipment troubleshooting

Hands-On : 80% of the workshop time is dedicated to practical, hands-on training which consists of:

  • Proper equipment assembly
  • Equipment troubleshooting and testing
  • Correct positioning of the ovary and follicles during aspiration
  • Oocyte searching and grading, extraction, washing / preparing oocytes (COCs) for shipment to the IVF lab for in-vitro maturation

Agtech’s OPU class is structured to accommodate individuals and teams. Many OPU service providers operate “solo,” performing aspirations while also performing the laboratory scope work. There are also many OPU service providers operating as a team with one person specialized in aspiration, while the other specializes in the laboratory tasks (searching, grading, and extracting COCs, and packing them in an incubator for transit to the IVF lab).

NOTE: All instruction is conducted inside Agtech’s climate-controlled Reproduction Education Center in Manhattan, Kansas.

TUITION

Tuition is due 30 days prior to start of class and includes all materials for the course and lunch each day. Upon completion of the course, each paid tuition receives an account credit of $500 to spend on IVF Bioscience media, WTA products, and Agtech-brand consumables.

For your flexibility, we offer the following two enrollment options :

► Option-A: $3695 includes training one person in both aspiration and lab techniques

► Option-B: $4000 includes training one person in aspiration, and an accompanying 2nd person in lab techniques

Note:  OPU lab best-practice techniques are only taught at Agtech during day-2 of the course, while aspiration lecture and hands-on practice occurs throughout both days of the course.

Class Size

Limited to 4 aspiration students &/or 4 lab students maximum (3 minimum)

Previous Experience

Cattle AI and/or ovary palpation experience is beneficial but not required. Ultrasound systems and probes are provided, however if you already own a system, you are encouraged to bring and use it during class. Please contact Agtech 2-3 weeks before class to provide Dr. Dayan with information about your ultrasound system.

About the InstructorS

The OPU workshop instructor is Dr. André Dayan who holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University Paulista (Brazil, 1994) and a master's degree in Biotechnology Applied to Animal Reproduction, earned from the Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho (Brazil, 2008). Dr. Dayan has been a featured presenter on OPU multiple times at annual meetings of the International Embryo Technology Society and the American Embryo Transfer Association.

The lab portion of Agtech’s OPU workshop is taught by Ms. Adaya Aroyo, MSc, Laboratory Director for the IVF service company Maxximilk, USA. Ms. Aroyo has worked worldwide as a bovine in-vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory manager for more than 20 years. She is an expert at training local staff to successfully run their own IVF laboratories while effectively implementing protocols of good laboratory practices.

IVF Lab Services

Maxximilk company is prepared to accept and process your oocytes! The instruction and supervision which you receive in this course by Dr. Dyan during aspiration, and by lab director Adaya Aroyo during oocyte searching, grading, extraction, washing, and thermal packaging allows you to achieve Maxximilk’s highest quality control standards while preparing oocytes for transport to the IVF lab.

Exclusive Offer

OPU students receive a 10% discount on Maxximilk’s IVF embryo production services, plus referral contact information of clients in your area seeking OPU services. Attending Agtech’s OPU class does not obligate you to use Maxximilk for IVF services.

Notice of COVID-19 Policy for Agtech Workshops

Agtech is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and training center. This includes measures and policy which help protect staff and workshop attendees from potentially contracting or spreading COVID-19. All Agtech staff and class instructors have received a COVID-19 vaccination, and Agtech encourages everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, you are allowed to attend class if you have not received a COVID-19 vaccination.

REQUIREMENT for EVERYONE enrolled in class (vaccinated & non-vaccinated): Each morning before leaving your hotel, assess your health status for the COVID-19 symptoms listed below. If you are experiencing one or several symptoms listed below, you are NOT allowed to attend class. If you attend class and are displaying COVID-19 symptoms, you will be asked to leave class. We will gladly re-register you at no charge into the same class held at a future date.

COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Unfortunately, you cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same.

Please agree above to proceed