pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Live births achieved via IVF are increased by improvements in air quality and laboratory environment - PubMed

Live births achieved via IVF are increased by improvements in air quality and laboratory environment

Ryan J Heitmann et al. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Infertility is a common disease, which causes many couples to seek treatment with assisted reproduction techniques. Many factors contribute to successful assisted reproduction technique outcomes. One important factor is laboratory environment and air quality. Our facility had the unique opportunity to compare consecutively used, but separate assisted reproduction technique laboratories, as a result of a required move. Environmental conditions were improved by strategic engineering designs. All other aspects of the IVF laboratory, including equipment, physicians, embryologists, nursing staff and protocols, were kept constant between facilities. Air quality testing showed improved air quality at the new IVF site. Embryo implantation (32.4% versus 24.3%; P < 0.01) and live birth (39.3% versus 31.8%, P < 0.05) were significantly increased in the new facility compared with the old facility. More patients met clinical criteria and underwent mandatory single embryo transfer on day 5 leading to both a reduction in multiple gestation pregnancies and increased numbers of vitrified embryos per patient with supernumerary embryos available. Improvements in IVF laboratory conditions and air quality had profound positive effects on laboratory measures and patient outcomes. This study further strengthens the importance of the laboratory environment and air quality in the success of an IVF programme.

Keywords: IVF; air quality; implantation; laboratory environment; live birth.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Comparison of IVF cycle outcomes per embryo transfer by cycle year (2011 versus 2012). Implantation reported as average implantation per patient. Chi-squared test was used for analysis. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.

Comment in

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Ahlstrom A, Westin C, Reismer E, Wikland M, Hardarson T. Trophectoderm morphology: an important parameter for predicting live birth after single blastocyst transfer. Hum. Reprod. 2011;26:3289–3296. - PubMed
    1. Boone WR, Johnson JE, Locke AJ, Crane MMT, Price TM. Control of air quality in an assisted reproductive technology laboratory. Fertil. Steril. 1999;71:150–154. - PubMed
    1. Cohen J, Gilligan A, Esposito W, Schimmel T, Dale B. Ambient air and its potential effects on conception in vitro. Hum. Reprod. 1997;12:1742–1749. - PubMed
    1. Cohen J, Gilligan A, Willadsen S. Culture and quality control of embryos. Hum. Reprod. 1998;13:137–147. - PubMed
    1. Csokmay JM, Hill MJ, Chason RJ, Hennessy S, James AN, Cohen J, Decherney AH, Segars JH, Payson MD. Experience with a patient-friendly, mandatory, single-blastocyst transfer policy: the power of one. Fertil. Steril. 2011;96:580–584. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms