If you're considering in vitro fertilization (IVF), you're probably asking yourself, "How can I be sure the lab is scientifically rigorous, will safeguard my frozen embryos, eggs, and sperm, and maximize my chances of a successful IVF pregnancy?" I understand how overwhelming this process can feel, so I've put together the top 5 questions to ask a fertility clinic about their IVF lab.

As the Lab Supervisor at Collab Fertility and an embryologist for a decade, I understand the importance of leveraging scientifically advanced, evidence-based equipment and methods to achieve positive fertility outcomes. It is a great honor to help people grow their families at our Bay Area fertility clinic and state-of-the-art IVF lab.

The most successful IVF labs foster optimal conditions for embryo development and employ advanced lab equipment alongside rigorous safety protocols. The success of IVF treatments hinges on the expertise of skilled embryologists who carry out their work with precision, rooted in scientific excellence and stringent quality control.

So, how do you ensure you choose the best possible fertility clinic and IVF lab?  Here are five key questions to ask:

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1. What type of incubator do you use?

During IVF, after a doctor retrieves eggs, an embryologist combines the eggs with sperm to create embryos in a lab. The embryos are then placed in incubators that mimic the conditions inside the human body.

The best IVF labs have incubators with separate, protective chambers so your embryos are not disturbed when the embryologists access other patients' embryos.

Our state-of-the-art Walnut Creek Fertility Clinic has a benchtop incubator where we culture embryos for 5-6 days. This incubator has a protective chamber for each individual embryo and maintains a continuous, stable culture environment. To maintain optimal growth conditions, we can access other patients’ embryos without disturbing yours.

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2. How clean is the air in your lab, and what type of air quality control system does your lab use?

Maintaining clean air quality in an IVF lab is critical for embryo safety and successful development. Both indoor and outdoor pollution can drastically impact the embryo and the success rate of IVF treatments.

The best IVF labs have highly advanced air purification and HVAC systems to maintain clean air and ideal lab temperatures.

Collab utilizes LifeAire®, an advanced air purification system that neutralizes up to 99.99% of airborne biological and chemical contaminants. We also have an HVAC system that maintains a consistent temperature in the lab. All of our lab systems and equipment are connected to a backup generator in case of a power outage.

3. Where are the eggs, embryos, and sperm stored?

In IVF labs, cultured embryos are stored in incubators, as mentioned above. Embryos, eggs, and sperm not being used immediately are frozen using vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks.

The best IVF labs use liquid nitrogen tanks that are vacuum insulated, not powered by electricity, and monitored 24/7. The tanks are kept at a temperature of -196°C, which allows for safe, long-time storage, and are placed in a secure lab space.

Here at Collab, we use a cryopreservation technique called embryo vitrification to rapidly cool embryos and solidify them into a glass-like structure. We then place the frozen embryos in liquid nitrogen tanks and store them in a highly secure place. We monitor the temperature of the tanks 24/7, with alarms notifying us immediately if the temperature changes.  

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4. What safety measures do you have in place, such as an alarm and a generator?

Because eggs, embryos, and sperm are highly sensitive, they must be stored under precise conditions to ensure their safety and security.

The best labs are outfitted with 24/7 security cameras, multiple alarms tracking the temperature and lab equipment performance, and a dedicated generator providing uninterrupted backup power.

We have many checks and balances at Collab to ensure quality control and safety in our lab located in our East Bay fertility clinic. We monitor incubators and other equipment 24/7. The alarm system immediately contacts team members if a parameter falls outside the normal range. We check the alarm system daily. Our incubators and other equipment are attached to an automatic backup power generator in case of a power failure. We test the generator weekly.

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5. Do the doctors in the clinic control the lab?

Some fertility clinics have onsite labs, while others rely on offsite, third-party labs managed by individuals who aren't directly connected to the clinic.

The best fertility clinics feature in-house labs where skilled embryologists manage lab operations under the supervision of a lead embryologist certified as a high-complexity clinical laboratory director.

At Collab, our lab is the heart of our Walnut Creek fertility clinic. We invest in state-of-the-art technology to maximize your fertility outcomes. Our dedicated embryologists, led by me and our lab director, Xinli Yang, are meticulous scientists with a deep passion for our work. We handle each egg and embryo with the highest level of care, and nothing brings us more joy than helping you bring new life into the world.

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Conclusion

I cannot emphasize the role of the lab in fertility treatments enough. Yes, you need a skilled fertility doctor, but a successful IVF is equally dependent on the lab operations and staff. The IVF lab is a critical component of fertility treatments, where science and expertise come together to give patients the best possible chance of starting or growing their families.

Do you have more questions about Collab’s IVF lab or fertility clinics and labs in general? Reach out to us. We are here to answer your questions and support you.

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Rhodel is driven to ensure impeccable evidence-based lab operations to give patients the best possible outcomes. He has spent more than a decade researching topics related to embryo culture and development to improve assisted reproductive outcomes. His research includes using AI for optimal sperm selection, predicting embryo viability, and developing novel devices for lab automation.

Before joining Collab Fertility, Rhodel was a Clinical Embryologist at the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health for eight years, consistently achieving high success rates.

Rhodel contributes to textbooks, including the most recent version of Yen & Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on IVF, embryology, AI, metabolism, and physiology in prestigious journals such as Fertility & Sterility, Scientific Reports, Biology of Reproduction, and Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. He is a board member of the Bay Area chapter of the Northern California Association for Reproductive Biologists (NCARB). He is also a science educator teaching high school and graduate students, including post-doctoral scholars, medical students, and medical fellows.