Maintenance of Identity: Preventing Mix up

It is difficult to imagine a circumstance where a mix-up in a medical situation could have a more damaging effect than in an IVF laboratory. For this reason, we take this issue very seriously and devote considerable time and effort into designing a system in which a mistake cannot happen. Identification and Maintenance for Gametes and Embryos This is the prescription document that identifies the patient's name, husband’s name, Center ID number and patient color code, and procedure witnessing.

Laboratory Paperwork and Preparation

When a patient is scheduled for a procedure such as IVF, ICSI or IUI, the laboratory receives at least 24 hours notice of the case. The laboratory prepares the paperwork and culture ware to be used in the case. This usually involves the preparation of test tubes and dishes containing a special fluid that will be used to incubate, sperm, eggs and/or embryos. Each item is carefully labeled with clear and unique identifying information that includes the patient's full name, patient's husband’s name and the patient is also assigned a color, by the embryologist, to further code her tubes and dishes. The accompanying paperwork is contained in a special laboratory book for immediate reference. Moreover, the paperwork contains a map of the exact location of each egg and embryo in each culture dish.

Procedure Witnessing

All the critical steps in the IVF/ICSI process in the lab are to be done in the presence of two embryologists for witnessing and checking. These steps are: egg retrieval, insemination or ICSI and embryo transfer. To verify the fidelity of semen specimen collection, nursing checks the Center ID of the male patient providing the specimen and requests that the male patient verify his name and ID number along with that of his wife by checking the information on the label of the sample cup. The identity of the female patient is verified and witnessed at egg retrieval by the attending embryologist by personal introduction and visually by checking the wrist ID bracelet. In the laboratory, the witnessing embryologist reviews the associated paperwork and the culture ware prior to the execution of the procedure in progress. Finally, at the time of the embryo transfer, the embryologist performing the transfer will announce the patient's name and the number of embryos to be transferred, when he/she enters the room. This announcement will be confirmed by Dr. Zaki and often by the patient. We take maintaining sample identity very seriously.