In-vitro fertilization laboratory safety: engineered through people, process, and planning

Area of Science:

• Assisted reproductive technology
• Laboratory management
• Patient safety

Background:

• The IVF field has shifted to a freeze-all model, increasing cryopreserved specimen inventories.
• This shift alters the risk profile from acute procedural errors to latent infrastructure and data management failures.
• Long-term storage of gametes and embryos is becoming more prevalent with assisted reproductive technology and social freezing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine new field threats in IVF laboratories.
• To outline strategies for mitigating risks associated with increased specimen inventories and long-term storage.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent disasters and vulnerabilities in IVF laboratory operations.
• Analysis of risk profiles in modern IVF laboratory settings.
• Examination of current accreditation standards and technological solutions.

Main Results:

• While procedural errors are rare, recent incidents highlight vulnerabilities in cryostorage monitoring, witnessing, and data transfer.
• Increased specimen inventories concentrate risk in long-term storage, affecting numerous patients in tail-risk scenarios.
• Failures in equipment or data management pose significant threats to patient safety and specimen viability.

Conclusions:

• Modern IVF labs face tail-risk scenarios requiring a move towards preventive work resilience.
• Automated technologies like weight-based cryostorage monitoring and electronic witnessing are essential.
• These technologies protect patient specimen identity, viability, and genetic integrity.