When it comes to fertility treatment involving sperm, eggs and embryos, precision and accountability are critical. There is simply no margin for error. At City Fertility, protecting the identification and traceability of every sperm, egg and embryo is not just a priority; it is a fundamental part of everything we do.
We want to reassure our patients and the wider community that we are unwavering when it comes to quality, safety and accountability in our laboratories. That’s why in addition to our comprehensive quality management systems, we have implemented a multi-layered verification approach that includes both advanced electronic witnessing and physical double-witnessing to ensure the highest level of protection and accuracy at every stage of treatment.
The RI Witness ART Management System: The global gold standard trusted worldwide
At the core of our verification process is the RI Witness ART Management System, the most globally recognised system for managing and preventing errors in IVF laboratories.
This advanced technology utilises Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to automatically and continuously track and monitor all critical steps involving sperm, eggs and embryos. It significantly reduces the risk of human error by alerting our team if a mismatch or incorrect procedure is detected ensuring no step proceeds without full validation.
From sperm preparation to egg collection, insemination, embryo freezing, thawing and transfer, the RI Witness system tracks and verifies every step in real-time, creating a secure, closed-loop process with no room for error.
Physical Witnessing Checkpoints
While technology is an invaluable safeguard, we believe that an additional layer of human verification strengthens our systems even further. That’s why, at City Fertility, we also employ double-witnessing at all key stages of treatment, where two qualified embryologists must confirm sample identification, labelling and procedures. Their verification is recorded through signatures, ensuring full traceability and accountability in our laboratories. These witnessing checkpoints act as an additional layer of protection, confirming that the correct gametes and embryos are being used throughout the process.
These checkpoints include:
- Before your procedure: All patient documentation is carefully reviewed and double-checked to confirm the patient codes and consent forms match the patient involved in the treatment.
- Sperm Collection or Retrieval: Before the IVF process begins, two scientists witness whether the correct fresh sperm sample is present, or the removal of the correct frozen sperm sample from our cryotanks has occurred.
- Sperm Preparation: Before sperm preparation begins, two scientists witness and scan the sperm sample with the RI Witness system, matching it to the patient recipient. The final preparation tube is also RI labelled before moving to the next phase of the process.
- In the Embryology Laboratory: For every IVF procedure, two scientists manually witness the sperm sample and oocytes before insemination. The RI Witness system is also utilised, with sperm tubes and oocyte dishes tagged and tracked throughout the process. Patients are issued an ID card, adding an extra layer of identification before egg collection, insemination, embryo freezing, thawing, biopsy or transfer.
- For Donor Insemination (IUI): The final identity check occurs just before the procedure, involving the scientist, clinician and patient. This ensures that the correct donor sample is used, with RI Witness providing added security.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Patient Safety
At City Fertility, we understand the deep trust our patients place in us. That’s why the safety of your treatment, including the careful handling of your sperm, eggs and embryos, is our highest priority.
Our multi-layered approach combines advanced electronic tracking and thorough physical verification at every stage. This comprehensive system offers patients confidence and peace of mind in the care they are receiving. You can rest assured in the knowledge that at City Fertility, every stage of your treatment is handled with care, precision and your future in mind.
By investing in advanced technology and maintaining rigorous quality system protocols, we remain at the forefront of IVF laboratories worldwide, providing our patients with the best possible care and outcomes.
