IVF Clinic Aided by CO2 and Temperature Monitors

The principal embryologist at an Assisted Reproduction Unit (ARU) needed an easy-to-use and reliable way of checking that their incubators' on-board CO2 and temperature monitors could be verified. The Geotech (UK) G100, which measures CO2 up to 20% and temperature, is used to demonstrate accurate and repeatable CO2 readings of the atmosphere inside the incubators. In just a few seconds the embryologist is able to take a reading from each of the different incubator models used in the ARU, including Thermo, Sanyo and Galaxy, all of which have a different means of sampling the air inside without fully opening the incubator inner door and adversely affecting the environment.

At this ARU in a UK hospital, embryologists provide in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services to couples wanting to conceive a child. The unit uses some of the most advanced fertility techniques in the world, including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve its strong record of success. Supporting the use of these advanced techniques is a scrupulous environmental regime controlling the atmosphere in the unit and, most importantly, in the incubators used to develop the human embryos. The incubators are held at a constant level of 6% CO2 and a strictly maintained temperature, as recommended by the suppliers of the culture medium used at the hospital.

To demonstrate the stability of the incubation conditions, the embryologist carried out a study, using the G100 to monitor CO2 levels. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also monitored during the project. The embryologist found that he could confirm, using the G100, that the CO2 levels were being held at a very consistent levels, with readings varying no more than 0.1% either side of the target 6.0% CO2. "I find this G100 analyser invaluable in validation of my equipment for fertility. To get an accurate, reliable CO2 and temperature monitor is vital to us. We regularly validate all our incubators to ensure they are at an optimum for IVF and that reflects well on our success results. I also find the G100 easy to use," he commented.

To monitor temperature, the G100 uses a dual probe to measure temperature between 0°C and 50°C, simultaneously verifying temperature at two points in the incubator. This would allow any difference in temperature between the top and the bottom to be identified, for example.

Many clinics also monitor O2, which the G100 can also monitor up to 100%, and with its options for temperature and humidity, the G100 is used worldwide for accurate incubator verification. Other variants of the monitor are available for a range of applications, including indoor air quality monitoring, controlled atmosphere monitoring, the brewing industry and food processing.