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Maintenance of Identity

Identification and Maintenance for Gametes and Embryos
This is the prescription document that identifies the patient's name, ID number and patient color code, patient containment tray and procedure witnessing. The Procedure Requisition is the prescription document that identifies the couples' name, ID number and the course of treatment the couple has agreed upon with Dr. Zouves.

Laboratory Paperwork and Preparation
From the Procedure Requisition, the laboratory prepares the paperwork and culture ware to be used in the case. The culture ware is labeled with the last name, ID number and a unique color for the labeling of all culture ware assigned to each patient by the embryologist. Labeled culture ware, along with eggs and embryos contained therein are then placed into a labeled Patient Containment Tray (PCT), which is placed in a selected incubator for the duration of treatment. Only one patient is placed in a given PCT. The accompanying paperwork is displayed on the outside of the selected incubator. The paperwork, including the Procedure Requisition, confirms the name, ID number and color code to be found on the culture ware. Moreover, the paperwork contains a map of the exact location of each egg and embryo in each culture dish.

Procedure Witnessing
An accompanying embryologist or nurse witnesses all critical steps in the IVF process. These steps are: egg retrieval, insemination or ICSI and embryo transfer. To verify the fidelity of semen specimen collection, nursing checks the ID of the male patient providing the specimen and requests that the male patient verify his name and ID number along with that of his partner by checking the information on the label of the sample cup and signing in the designated space. The identity of the female patient is verified and witnessed at egg retrieval by the attending embryologist by personal introduction and visually by checking the wrist ID bracelet. In the laboratory, the witnessing embryologist reviews the associated paperwork and the culture ware prior to the execution of the procedure in progress. Finally, at the time of the embryo transfer, the embryologist performing the transfer will announce the patient's name and the number of embryos to be transferred, when he/she enters the room. This announcement will be confirmed by Dr. Zouves and often by the patient. We take maintaining sample identity very seriously.