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The Importance of The Laboratory

Course / The Importance of The Laboratory

How to Know If Your Lab is Good at Egg Freezing

Egg freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) is not a simple pause button. It is a high-stakes process where laboratory skill directly dictates the egg’s potential for life upon thawing. A “good” lab is defined by its protocols, technology, and proven outcomes.

Key Indicators of an Excellent Egg Freezing Lab:

  1. Vitrification Technique Mastery:
    • The Standard of Care: The lab must exclusively use the vitrification method (ultra-rapid freezing), which prevents damaging ice crystal formation. Ask if they use proprietary commercial kits or in-house solutions; both can be effective, but the protocol must be standardized and rigorously tested.
    • Expert Skill: The embryologist’s technique in handling, loading, and cooling the eggs is paramount. There is no margin for error.
  2. Cryo-Survival Rate Data:
    • The Critical Metric: This is the most important number. A top-tier lab will have a consistent oocyte survival rate of 90% or higher post-thaw. You must ask for their clinic-specific data.
    • Beyond Survival: Inquire about the fertilization rate of thawed eggs. A good survival rate is meaningless if the eggs cannot then fertilize and develop. Look for fertilization rates comparable to fresh eggs.
  3. Embryologist Experience & Stability:
    • Ask: “How many egg freezing cycles does your lead embryologist perform annually?” High volume leads to expertise.
    • Low Staff Turnover: A lab with consistent, long-term staff maintains rigorous quality control and standardized techniques. High turnover is a significant red flag.
  4. State-of-the-Art Equipment:
    • Time-Lapse Incubators: While not exclusive to freezing, their use for culture post-thaw indicates a commitment to the highest level of embryo assessment.
    • Advanced ICSI Equipment: Using Piezo-ICSI or other advanced sperm injection techniques is crucial for thawed eggs, as the zona pellucida can be hardened.

We audit lab outcome reports and insist on data transparency. We do not partner with labs that are vague about their survival rates.

Good at Egg Freezing

A good IVF lab is an ecosystem that perfectly mimics the fallopian tube and uterus. Its success is measured not by positive pregnancy tests, but by live birth rates per embryo transferred.

1. Mastery of the Vitrification Technique

  • Gold Standard Method: The best labs use vitrification — an ultra-rapid freezing process that prevents ice crystal damage. Ask whether they use trusted commercial kits or in-house methods; both are fine as long as the process is standardized and tested.

  • Embryologist Skill: Success depends heavily on the precision of the embryologist. Handling, loading, and cooling eggs must be done flawlessly — there’s no room for error.

2. Strong Cryo-Survival Rates

  • The Key Number: This is the most critical metric to check. A top-performing lab should have an egg survival rate of 90% or higher after thawing. Always request their actual data.

  • Beyond Survival: Ask about the fertilization rate of thawed eggs. A high survival rate means little if the eggs can’t fertilize and grow. Good labs have fertilization results comparable to fresh eggs.

3. Experienced and Stable Embryology Team

  • Experience Matters: Ask how many egg freezing cycles the lead embryologist handles each year. The more cycles, the more refined their skills.

  • Staff Stability: Long-term, consistent staff ensure high-quality, standardized work. High turnover can signal poor management or inconsistent results.

4. Modern, High-End Equipment

  • Time-Lapse Incubators: While not limited to egg freezing, their use shows a lab’s commitment to top-tier embryo monitoring after thawing.

  • Advanced ICSI Tools: Look for techniques like Piezo-ICSI, which help sperm penetrate the egg’s hardened outer layer after freezing.

Our Standard:
We carefully review lab performance data and demand full transparency. We only collaborate with labs that openly share their survival and fertilization results — never those that hide behind vague numbers.

How to Know If Your Lab is Good at IVF

A good IVF lab is an ecosystem that perfectly mimics the fallopian tube and uterus. Its success is measured not by positive pregnancy tests, but by live birth rates per embryo transferred.

Key Indicators of an Excellent IVF Lab:

  1. Blastocyst Culture & Day-5 Transfer Rate:
    • The Gold Standard: A proficient lab should have a high rate of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage (Day 5/6). This self-selects for the most viable embryos. Ask for their blastocyst conversion rate (e.g., what percentage of fertilized eggs make it to blastocyst?).
    • Benchmark: While patient-dependent, a rate of 50-60% is a strong indicator of a superior culture system.
  2. Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (PGT-A) Partnership:
    • Seamless Biopsy: The lab must demonstrate expertise in trophectoderm biopsy—safely removing cells from the blastocyst for genetic testing.
    • Low Damage Rate: The biopsy should not harm the embryo’s potential. Ask about their re-analysis concordance rate with the genetics lab to ensure diagnostic accuracy.
  3. Live Birth Rate (LBR) per Single Embryo Transfer (SET):
    • The Ultimate Metric: The SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) report is a starting point, but dig deeper. Ask for the LBR for a euploid (chromosomally normal) embryo transfer in your specific age group. For a top lab, this should be 60% or higher per transfer.
    • Low Rate of “Unexplained” Arrest: While some embryo arrest is normal, a lab with a superior environment will have fewer embryos that arrest development for no apparent reason.
  4. Air Quality & Contamination Control:
    • ISO Class 5/6 Air: The lab must have HEPA-filtered, positive-pressure air handling systems to protect delicate embryos from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pathogens.
    • Quality Control Logs: Rigorous monitoring of incubator gas concentrations, temperature, and media pH is non-negotiable.

We prioritize labs with outstanding SET success rates, as this reflects true embryo quality and minimizes risks for the surrogate.

Moving Your Eggs or Embryos to Another Clinic

Transporting frozen genetic material is a common but highly regulated process. The risk is low with a competent team, but the responsibility is immense.

The Step-by-Step Expert Protocol for a Safe Transfer:

  1. Initiating the Process (The “Release”):
    • You must provide written, notarized authorization to your current clinic (the “shipping” clinic) releasing your eggs/embryos.
    • The receiving clinic (“receiving” clinic) will have their own intake forms and will coordinate directly with the shipping clinic’s lab.
  2. Selecting the Cryo-Shipping Company:
    • This is typically handled by the receiving clinic, as they have trusted partnerships. These are specialized medical couriers that use dry vapor shippers certified to maintain cryogenic temperatures (-196°C) for days.
  3. The Critical Pre-Shipment Inventory:
    • Demand a detailed, witnessed inventory. Before the tank is sealed, both labs must verify the number of vials/straws and the patient identifiers on each. This is the most crucial step to prevent loss or mix-up.
  4. Legal & Logistical Coordination:
    • The clinics will arrange the shipping date. You will be responsible for the cost, which can range from $500 to $1,500.
    • Ensure all liability is clearly defined in the shipping agreement.
  5. Verification Upon Arrival:
    • The receiving lab will immediately verify the inventory against the shipping manifest upon receipt. You should request confirmation that the transfer is complete and all specimens are accounted for.

We act as your project manager, ensuring clear communication between all parties, verifying the credentials of the courier, and confirming the successful completion of each step.

Pro Tips: The Questions You Must Ask Your Lab

Empower yourself. The answers to these questions separate adequate labs from exceptional ones.

Your Non-Negligible Question List:

  • “Can you provide your clinic-specific thaw survival rates for donor eggs and for patients in my age group?” (For Egg Freezing)
  • “What is your live birth rate per single euploid embryo transfer?” (This is the purest measure of lab quality for IVF).
  • “What is your blastocyst conversion rate?” (e.g., from fertilized egg to blastocyst).
  • “Who will be performing my ICSI/biopsy/vitrification, and what is their specific experience and success rate?”
  • “What type of time-lapse incubators and air quality systems do you use?”
  • “In the event of a power failure or disaster, what is your backup system? How long can your liquid nitrogen tanks maintain temperature without power?” (A confident lab will have a detailed, robust plan).