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Minimal standards for programs of in vitro fertilization
FERTILITY AND STERILITY Copyright © 1984 The American Fertility Society
Vol. 41, No, 1, January 1984 Printed in U.8A.
Minimal standards for programs of in vitro fertilization American Fertility Society*t
I.
General Considerations Every group initiating a program of in vitro fertilization should have all aspects of the program approved by a properly constituted Institutional Review Committee. The Institutional Review Committee or its equivalent should ensure that a record is kept of all attempts made at securing pregnancies by these techniques. The records should include all medical aspects of the treatment cycles and a record of success or failure with respect to oocyte recovery, fertilization, cleavage, conceptus transfer, biophysical monitoring of fetal growth, pregnancy outcome, and complications. These institutional records, which should be separate from the regular records of the medical institution, should be confidential. Summaries for statistical purposes, including details of any congenital abnormalities among offspring, should be available for correlation. It is recommended that special attention be given to the emotional needs and the emotional support of these patients. It is recommended that the director of the program have clinical experience and competence. In view of the many research opportunities offered by programs of in vitro fertilization, it is urged that all programs be
*Report of an ad hoc committee of The American Fertility Society: Howard W. Jones, Jr., M.D., Chairman, Anne Colston Wentz, M.D., Martin M. Quigley, M.D., Richard P. Marrs, M.D., and C. Alvin Paulsen, M.D. Approved by the Board of Directors of The American Fertility Society. tReprint requests: The American Fertility Society, 1608 13th Avenue South, Suite 101, Birmingham, Alabama 35256. Vol. 41, No. I, January 1984
designed to take advantage of these opportunities.
II.
Personnel Personnel with the following four types of skills are required as a minimum. A single individual may possess one or more of the required skills. (1) An individual with the experience and training required for board certification in reproductive endocrinology. While individuals with equivalent training and experience are certainly acceptable, board certification clearly indicates that the required skills in reproductive endocrinology have been obtained. (2) A pelvic reparative surgeon with laparoscopic experience with evidence of specialized training in follicular aspiration. (3) An individual experienced in male reproduction (andrology) with special competence in semenology. (4) An individual with knowledge of and practical experience in tissue culture, gamete maturation, fertilization, and early zygote cleavage in human and animal systems.
III.
Special Services and Facilities These services and facilities must be on call on a daily basis with 24-hour availability. (1) Ultrasonography. (2) Hormonal assays. (3) Facilities for follicular aspiration and conceptus transfer. (4) Anesthesia. (5) A laboratory for gamete fertilization and conceptus development near the operating room with two-way communication between the laboratory and operating room.
American Fertility Society Minimal standards for IVF
13
Vol. 41, No, 1, January 1984 Printed in U.8A.
Minimal standards for programs of in vitro fertilization American Fertility Society*t
I.
General Considerations Every group initiating a program of in vitro fertilization should have all aspects of the program approved by a properly constituted Institutional Review Committee. The Institutional Review Committee or its equivalent should ensure that a record is kept of all attempts made at securing pregnancies by these techniques. The records should include all medical aspects of the treatment cycles and a record of success or failure with respect to oocyte recovery, fertilization, cleavage, conceptus transfer, biophysical monitoring of fetal growth, pregnancy outcome, and complications. These institutional records, which should be separate from the regular records of the medical institution, should be confidential. Summaries for statistical purposes, including details of any congenital abnormalities among offspring, should be available for correlation. It is recommended that special attention be given to the emotional needs and the emotional support of these patients. It is recommended that the director of the program have clinical experience and competence. In view of the many research opportunities offered by programs of in vitro fertilization, it is urged that all programs be
*Report of an ad hoc committee of The American Fertility Society: Howard W. Jones, Jr., M.D., Chairman, Anne Colston Wentz, M.D., Martin M. Quigley, M.D., Richard P. Marrs, M.D., and C. Alvin Paulsen, M.D. Approved by the Board of Directors of The American Fertility Society. tReprint requests: The American Fertility Society, 1608 13th Avenue South, Suite 101, Birmingham, Alabama 35256. Vol. 41, No. I, January 1984
designed to take advantage of these opportunities.
II.
Personnel Personnel with the following four types of skills are required as a minimum. A single individual may possess one or more of the required skills. (1) An individual with the experience and training required for board certification in reproductive endocrinology. While individuals with equivalent training and experience are certainly acceptable, board certification clearly indicates that the required skills in reproductive endocrinology have been obtained. (2) A pelvic reparative surgeon with laparoscopic experience with evidence of specialized training in follicular aspiration. (3) An individual experienced in male reproduction (andrology) with special competence in semenology. (4) An individual with knowledge of and practical experience in tissue culture, gamete maturation, fertilization, and early zygote cleavage in human and animal systems.
III.
Special Services and Facilities These services and facilities must be on call on a daily basis with 24-hour availability. (1) Ultrasonography. (2) Hormonal assays. (3) Facilities for follicular aspiration and conceptus transfer. (4) Anesthesia. (5) A laboratory for gamete fertilization and conceptus development near the operating room with two-way communication between the laboratory and operating room.
American Fertility Society Minimal standards for IVF
13