Establishing the IVF laboratory: A systems view

Abstract

The modern IVF laboratory is an integral part of the system used to support human embryo growth. The laboratory must be designed to provide the essential maternal supports for fertilization and development to the blastocyst stage. The laboratory must provide a physical barrier to microbial contamination and chemical degradation. This is done by using a high level of pressurization and isolation. Air supplied to the IVF laboratory is both filtered for particulates and chemical contaminates. Selecting clean materials for construction complements our efforts to remove embryotoxic materials from the IVF laboratory. If successfully done, the isolation, pressurization, plus particulate and chemical filtration will result in higher pregnancy and implantation rates. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.