Michael Lee, MS, TS, ELD (ABB) is the board certified Laboratory Director at Fertility Solutions. Michael prepared the following explanation of quality control and quality assurance within the laboratory at Fertility Solutions.

The laboratories at Fertility Solutions are monitored 24/7, 365 days per year by a state-of-the-art wireless system from Temp Trak. Each instrument has an individual sensor that sends a reading to the central QC database every few minutes. Each refrigerator, freezer, cryo storage tank, incubator, warmer, water bath, and each lab’s ambient temperature and humidity are monitored continuously.

In all, there are over 30 sensors monitoring the equipment and room conditions that are occupied by our supplies, culture media, eggs, embryos, frozen sperm and embryos. If these sensors detect an abnormal reading they immediately trigger alarms within the laboratories as well as text messages and phone calls to key laboratory personnel. In the event of a power failure or extreme weather event the labs are connected to a very large battery backup system for uninterrupted power supply as well as a backup generator. These sensors and backup systems are calibrated, tested, and monitored on an ongoing basis to assure their peak operation.

Each sensor reading and data trend are reviewed monthly by the laboratory director to determine trends in equipment health and provides a guide for future equipment maintenance and replacement needs. The data also provides a detailed look at the inner workings of the lab for quality control and assurance initiatives. This data is used to make informed decisions about needed improvements in laboratory protocols, equipment needs and staffing.

In addition to sensor information, there is also ongoing data analysis on all aspects of andrology, endocrinology, and embryology laboratory testing and resulting pregnancy rates to help us improve our methods and laboratories to help our patients be successful in their journey to parenthood. Take a tour of our IVF laboratory.