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Designed in response to your on-line operating requirements in
today’s IVF laboratories, the
Matcher
is employed to prevent identification errors during the IVF
procedure and to facilitate better lab management.
The
Matcher
operates based on a unique barcode identification system that
verifies matching between gamete containers, embryo dishes,
cryo containers, patient bracelets and patient file folders.
This quick, easy and safe checking method collects the data
from each step of the cycle: and it makes this data available
for management needs and quality control.
Currently, there is no objective and “fool-proof”
identification system in IVF laboratories, other than manual
labeling that is often prone to human error. Such
misidentification errors may occur anywhere throughout the IVF
cycle and in particular at three critical stages:
Fertilization
A
common error is using oocytes or sperm that do not match the
identity of the patients.
Culture dish exchange
When
embryos are transferred from one culture dish to another,
such as in medium exchange during the second day of the
procedure, or dish exchange from an ICSI dish to an
incubator dish.
Embryo transfer
A
further venue for possible mismatching can occur when the
physician transfers the embryos back to the uterus.
The
Matcher
Provides a sense of security and the assurance of proper
procedures to:
·
The patients
·
Clinic administrators and technicians
·
Health and liability insurers
·
Health authorities
In what ways does the Matcher facilitate better lab management
and quality assurance?
Identification:
The
Matcher
traces each step in the IVF cycle and avoids “mix-up” errors
throughout each procedure, while the oocytes, embryos or semen
are outside the incubator. Additionally, it verifies proper
matching of the samples with the patient and identifies the
technician conducting the procedure.
In order to assure proper matching between all samples and
patients, the
Matcher
identifies culture dishes, test tubes and patient bracelets
through specially designed, disposable barcode labels
featuring specific identification numbers. The identification
numbers are unique to each IVF cycle and a variety of labels
are offered. The labels are
packaged in sets, where a set allows labeling of all culture
dishes, test tubes, vials, straws, patient bracelets and file
folders used in a single IVF cycle.
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Documentation:
Each steep in the laboratory cycle is documented in the
system’s data base. The documentation includes pictures of the
barcodes, patient name and barcode number, the technician
involved and the time and date of each matching operation.
The
Matcher
can be placed within the laboratories, where technicians
perform their IVF procedures, with several working stations
connected to a central PC. The setup of one PC per laboratory
with several Matchers at the various working stations will
permit several technicians to work on different patients
simultaneously.[back]
Reporting:
All data recorded by the
Matcher
can be automatically compiled and sorted to produce reports on
a single matching operation, on all the match operations for a
specific patient or all of the match operations performed
during a specific period.
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