Why Having One, Centralized Lab is Essential

Coastal Fertility is committed to achieving the best outcomes for our patients and a large part of that comes from the quality of our Embryology Lab. We’ve recruited some of the best laboratory specialists in the country to create a team built around the core principle of developing and maintaining a cutting- edge embryology, endocrinology and andrology laboratory. We are in the minority of IVF centers by
employing our own, full-time, on-site laboratory director, Dr. Jeff Gray, PhD, HCLD, TS.

So why is all of this so important? We believe that top tier pregnancy rates come from top tier
embryology laboratories. We believe that having a centralized lab allows us to better streamline,
monitor and refine our embryology practices and procedures and enables us to continuously
improve our laboratory over time. Developing and maintaining a high-quality embryology
laboratory is an incredibly expensive and time-consuming process and we believe that investing
all of our resources into one, central lab enables us to consistently achieve some of the best
pregnancy rates in the country for our patients.

Interestingly enough, what sets us apart from other labs is found in the details – things like our high-tech HVAC system with 4 ultra-filters, UV lights and lab positive pressure. It is our
responsibility to provide the best possible environment for the gametes and embryos that spend
time in our laboratory. As such, everything involved in making an embryo happy – the
equipment, the plasticware, the culture media, even the incubator gas, is tracked, tested and
monitored before ever encountering an embryo. Maintaining the optimal temperature of the
embryos as they are cultured, observed, and manipulated, requires over 30 temperature points
to be monitored each day. Each piece of equipment is monitored daily with scheduled
maintenance, calibration, and certification protocols in place, giving embryologists peace of
mind that the embryos are in their optimal environment. Another layer of protection is provided
by the battery back-up, emergency generator and an alarm notification system that is in place
for the incubators and other essential lab equipment. Our embryologists also take part in regular
internal and external proficiency testing to stay up-to-date on best lab practices and ensures
uniform performance among embryologists in the laboratory.

We are proud to go to such great lengths for our patients and their future babies, because
your dreams matter!