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    • Safe cryopreservation of gametes and embryos
    • Witnessing the identification of samples
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Background

As a safety regulator for the fertility sector, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has a significant role to ensure patient safety and to ensure that the highest standards of clinical conduct are being maintained.

Following concerns about cross contamination risks of stored material in licensed centres, the HFEA carried out an extensive consultation on the safety of cryopreservation, how to protect patients and the steps required to minimise the possible risk of transmitting diseases between embryos stored.

Consultation process

In June 1998 the HFEA established a Working Group on the Safe Cryopreservation of Gametes and Embryos and sought views from licensed centres as well as a broad group of professional bodies and patient organisation groups.

In June 1988 the HFEA published a consultation document.  The document discussed the fundamental importance of the safe cryopreservation of gametes and embryos.

The consultation focused on three key areas:

• the risk of microbial and viral contamination and whether this risk warrants the introduction of certain measures
• whether everyone placing material in storage should be screened and what this would mean in practice
• the possible alternatives to current storage practice, including vapour phase storage and secondary containment methods.

Following analysis of the feedback from professional organisations and patient groups gathered through the consultation, the Working Group produced a report which recommended that clinics should screen all patients who wished to place gametes and embryos samples in storage.

Consultation outcome

In its November 1999 meeting The Authority considered the report presented by the Working Group and concurred with the recommendation that clinics should screen all patients who wished to place gametes and embryos in storage.

The Authority further agreed that screened and unscreened samples of gametes and embryos should be kept in separate vessels.
 
The agreed recommendations on the safe cryopreservation of gametes and embryos were referred to the Code of Practice Committee to be incorporated into the HFEA Code of Practice.

Further information

• Consultation Document (3.1Mb)

Page last updated: 18 March 2009

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