The use of a mobile laboratory cart in a successful university-based human in vitro fertilization program

The use of a mobile laboratory unit for a successful university-based IVF program is described. The construction of the cart is described in detail. The laboratory cart can be pushed to any site where ovum aspiration is carried out (either operating theater or ultrasound facilities). Aspirated oocytes can be transferred immediately to culture media and transported back to the gamete handling laboratory for embryo culture. Developing embryos can also be transported to any location in the hospital for transfer. This system is inexpensive and has eliminated the need to duplicate specialized equipment for a gamete handling laboratory adjacent to the operating room. New construction charges have been eliminated; and as new egg retrieval methodologies are developed, the use of the mobile laboratory cart will provide our IVF program with maximum flexibility in changing sites within the hospital. Used in conjunction with an extensive quality control program, this modification has not interfered with oocyte fertilizability or with the overall pregnancy rate in the University of Wisconsin IVF program.