Establishing quality control in the new IVF laboratory

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine and Biology
• Embryology and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

Background:

• Optimal laboratory conditions are essential for oocyte and embryo culture to ensure embryo viability and successful pregnancy outcomes in IVF.
• Effective laboratory performance monitoring through quality control systems is vital for maintaining high standards in IVF units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a comprehensive quality control program for a new IVF unit.
• To monitor laboratory performance, detect potential issues, and ensure an optimal environment for human embryo culture.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a quality control program to assess laboratory performance prior to and during clinical treatments.
• Evaluation of equipment function, consumables, and environmental parameters.
• Utilization of a mouse embryo bioassay to assess the laboratory's capacity for supporting mammalian embryo development.

Main Results:

• The quality control program identified sub-optimal equipment function before clinical treatments commenced, preventing potential service compromise.
• Continuous monitoring ensured the laboratory consistently maintained a high standard of operation after clinical treatments began.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive quality control program is indispensable for setting up and maintaining high-performing IVF laboratory environments.
• Proactive quality control measures safeguard embryo viability and contribute to improved pregnancy outcomes in assisted reproduction.