Why Lab Safety Matters
As an embryologist, safety in the laboratory isn’t just a protocol—it’s a commitment to protecting the precious beginnings of life. Every day, we work with the most delicate biological material, ensuring that eggs, sperm, and embryos are handled with the highest level of care. Safety centers around safeguarding the quality and viability of reproductive cells for our patients. The conditions within our lab can directly impact a patient’s chances of success, which is why every precaution is taken to maintain the best possible environment. Safety also includes ensuring that each embryo, egg, or sperm sample is accurately identified. We use a double-witness system, electronic RFID sample tagging, and barcode scanning to verify patient identity at every step, reducing the possibility of errors. Our stringent protocols for gamete and embryo identification are safeguards against sample mix-ups and give peace of mind to both patients and staff.
Stringent Identification Protocols – Electronic and Double Human Witnessing
One of the most critical aspects of safeguarding is centered around sample identity. We take this very seriously. In addition to double human witnessing, team treatment plan reviews, and OR timeout procedures, we use an electronic witnessing system. Electronic witnessing is now established as the global gold standard for sample identity and mismatch avoidance. We use RI Witness, the world’s leading technology in electronic witnessing, in our clinic and IVF laboratory. It provides unmatched confidence for both the patients and clinic staff that all procedures are performed with the highest level of security possible. From the onset of a cycle, the system locks patient identity to each oocyte and sperm sample via electronic RFID tagging for continuous sample monitoring and identification.
RI Witness uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to detect and monitor all activity in the IVF Laboratory. The system helps mitigate the risk of human error every time samples are moved from one dish or tube to another, and safeguards every step of the IVF cycle. Throughout the lab, RI Witness readers are in place at all workstations where samples are handled and work undertaken. RFID tags are attached to laboratory dishes and plasticware, ensuring only compatible samples are worked on at any one time. This safeguard is in place for each procedure, from the dish preparation, oocyte retrieval, semen preparation, insemination, embryo culture, biopsy, freezing of embryos, warming of embryos for transfer, and for all IUI inseminations. The system is automatic, and active all day, every day, so a check cannot be overlooked.
Highest accreditation standards
The embryologists in the IVF laboratory are in charge of creating, culturing, biopsying, freezing, warming, and transferring human embryos with the highest potential to implant and create a successful pregnancy. Working with these gametes and embryos requires the highest levels of skill, proficiency, and competency. Our IVF and Andrology laboratories are accredited and licensed to operate by the College of American Pathologists, CAP, and CLIA. These accreditations hold the laboratories to the highest standards of staff training and adherence to guidelines and must be renewed with rigorous inspections into every part of the laboratory every two years.
Strict Environmental Monitoring
As part of the accreditation and licensing, the laboratory adheres to strict environmental and equipment controls. Embryos are highly sensitive to changes in their environments, including temperature, gas concentrations, humidity, and air quality. Our laboratories are equipped with advanced HEPA filtration systems to maintain an environment free of contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can impede embryo development. Equipment in the laboratory is constantly monitored. From large equipment, refrigerators, workbenches, warmers, incubators, to the smallest, heated stages for micromanipulation and tube warmers, each piece of equipment is monitored and reviewed to ensure we achieve the most stable environment for gamete function and embryo development.
Many patients rely on frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos for future use. Liquid nitrogen storage tanks are under round-the-clock monitoring with alarm systems, and liquid nitrogen levels are measured and filled according to stringent regulatory standards to prevent temperature fluctuations.
Embryo Development – Continual Video Surveillance
In our laboratory, eggs and embryos are safeguarded by culture in a timelapse incubator allowing real time continual video surveillance of fertilization and embryo development. This state-of-the-art technology assists our skilled Embryologists in embryo selection giving each patient the highest chance of success per cycle and transfer. Learn more about CareMaps-AI technology and how we use it in our lab.
Minimizing Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is a significant concern when working with biological material. We follow strict aseptic techniques, using disposable pipettes, sterile culture dishes, and single-use media. Each gamete and embryo is handled individually to prevent any risk of contamination. In addition to double human witnessing, the electronic witnessing only allows one patient sample to be in any one work environment at a time.
Regular Equipment Maintenance, Audits & Quality Assurance
Regular and routine equipment maintenance, and quality assurance checks help us maintain the highest standards in laboratory outcomes, safety and efficiency.
Laboratory Staff Safety
Lab safety also includes protecting our highly skilled and trained laboratory personnel. Embryologists and Andrologists use proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and wear gloves, masks, and lab coats to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals and biological materials. Regular handwashing and workstation sanitization are routine practices to maintain a sterile working environment. Cryogenic safety measures, chemical handling protocols, and ergonomic considerations are also part of the rigorous safety protocols in the laboratory.
A Commitment to Excellence
At Reach Fertility, safety is at the core of everything we do. Every measure we take in the lab is designed to protect not only the reproductive material we handle but also the hopes and dreams of the families we serve. As embryologists, we take pride in upholding the highest standards of safety and precision—because when it comes to fertility care, every detail counts.
If you are ready to start fertility treatment or you have questions about how the Reach lab works, contact us today!
