Preparation for an IVF Case

Personnel in the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Laboratory prepare the paperwork and culture dishes once they receive notification from the physician’s staff that the patient is ready for egg retrieval.  All culture dishes are labeled with patient name and social security number, as well as with a unique color code.  The dishes are then placed on a dedicated shelf in an incubator to equilibrate overnight.  A label is placed on the outside of the incubator with patient name and social security number, their unique color code, and other information pertaining to the cycle.

Maintaining Patient Identity During an IVF Case

Midwest Fertility Specialists’ procedure for maintaining patient identification is based on a double verification system, whereby a second biologist, a nurse, a surgical technician, or a physician in addition to the primary biologist always verifies the patient identity at key steps in the In Vitro Fertilization process.  For instance, when a patient is brought to the Procedure Room for an egg retrieval the surgical technician verifies patient identity, and places the patient label with first and last name, social security number, and date of birth on the Patient Verification Sheet.  The technician then signs the Verification Sheet.  A biologist confirms the patient identity and the labels on the culture dishes, and also signs the Verification Sheet.  The same double verification process is followed upon receipt and processing of the semen sample, when performing either a regular insemination or ICSI, and when freezing and thawing embryos.

When a patient is brought in for embryo transfer, a biologist and a nurse or physician will verify patient identity and sign the Verification Sheet.  As an added measure of security, just prior to the embryo transfer the biologist will have the patient confirm the label on the dish in which the embryos were grown.  In cycles involving thawed embryos the patient will be asked to verify the labeled ampoule or straw in which the embryos were frozen.  Finally, when the embryos are removed from the incubator just prior to transfer, two biologists confirm the identity of the embryos and sign the Verification Sheet.