Maintenance of Identity of Eggs, Sperm, and Embryos

The most crucial aspect of an Embryology Laboratory is safeguarding the identity of patients' blood samples, sperm, eggs, and embryos. In our clinic, multi-layer safety measures are taken to guarantee the "chain of custody" of your eggs, sperm, and embryos.

 

The following set of rules highlights the principles of the "chain of custody" used for your blood samples, semen samples, eggs, and embryos at Bay IVF Center. This tracking system is performed by trained reproductive embryologists only.

 

Patients must be identified prior to giving or receiving samples of any kind. The sample must contain the following written information:

1. Name of the patient and the partner

    

2. SSN or unique Bay IVF Center ID number

    

3. Name of the test/treatment requested

    

4. Date and time of specimen collection

A record is established on every specimen (blood samples, semen samples, eggs, and embryos) accepted/created by the laboratory embryologists:

1. The embryologist records the patient's full name, Bay IVF Center ID number or SSN, date and time of specimen collection, and name of the test/treatment.

    

2. The laboratory personnel will get a verbal confirmation of the patient's name and will double check using the patient's chart prior to receiving or releasing a semen specimen, receiving follicular aspirate during egg retrieval procedure, or performing embryo transfer.  Another embryologist, physician, or IVF coordinator witnesses this confirmation.

    

3. Provisions are made to identify gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos as to their origin and to absolutely keep them separate from eggs, sperm, and embryos of other patients.

    

   Prior to procedures, dishes, test tubes, and all required culture-ware are labeled with the patient's name, unique ID number, date, and the contents.

    

   Each patient has their own designated space in a selected incubator defined by a patient-specific tray. All labeled laboratory test tubes and petri dishes containing the sperm, eggs, and embryos of any given patient are placed in this tray and only in this tray. Our embryologists will repeatedly verify the specimen labels during the treatment. 

    

4. All the necessary paperwork is gathered before beginning procedures. Forms are completed using the full name of the patients. Spelling is verified. If a name is unclear, the information is verified with the IVF coordinators and the physician.

Due to the nature of the procedures performed at the Bay IVF Center, all details of the treatment are indefinitely stored including the patient's cycle information and a listing of any frozen embryos in liquid nitrogen storage. This information is recorded both in paper form as well as digitally, with a secure continuous back-up.

 

We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need to feel completely assured in entrusting your eggs, sperm, and embryos in our care.

 

If you have any questions regarding safeguarding the identity of eggs, sperm, and embryos, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500, via email at care@BayIVF.com, or use the Contact Bay IVF Center form on this page.