At Nova IVF, multiple and multi-layer precautions are taken to assure the "chain of custody" of your eggs, sperm and embryos is never compromised. We recognize and fully appreciate the ultimate degree of trust in us you must have to undergo advanced reproductive treatments.
The following protocol highlights the principles of the "chain of custody" of your blood samples, semen samples, eggs and embryos at Nova:
Principle:
This protocol defines a tracking system that links the patients to their samples throughout the treatment in the clinic, documentation of patient treatment information and the record keeping policy. This tracking system is performed by trained IVF embryologists only.
Procedure:
Patients must be identified prior to giving or receiving samples of any kind. The sample must contain the following written information:
- Full name of the patient and the partner.
- SSN or unique Nova ID number
- Name of the test requested
- Date and time of specimen collection
- The embryologist records the patient's full name, Nova ID number or SSN. Date and time of specimen collection are also recorded.
- 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 oocyte retrieval procedure and performing
embryo transfer. Another embryologist, physician or IVF coordinator witnesses this confirmation.
- 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 by careful labeling.
Prior to procedures, dishes, tubes and all required culture ware are labeled with the patient's name, unique ID number, date and the contents.
Each couple has their own designated space in a selected incubator defined by a couple-specific tray. All labeled laboratory test tubes and petri dishes containing the sperm, egg and embryos of any given couple are placed in this tray and only in this tray.
In following the College of American Pathologists rules, we do not use color coding of patients' specimens since this can promote complacency. Our embryologists repeatedly verify the full specimen labels during the treatment.
- 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 fertility coordinators and the physicians.
Due to the nature of the procedures performed at the Nova IVF, all details of the treatment are indefinitely stored including the patient's cycle information and a listing of the frozen embryos in the liquid nitrogen storage. This information is recorded both in a paper form as well as on a server that is backed up daily. These are reviewed and signed by the laboratory director.
We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need to feel totally assured in entrusting your eggs, sperm and embryos in our care.
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