title: Revised guidelines for good practice in IVF laboratories (2015).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Which recommendations can be provided by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Special Interest Group (ESHRE SIG) Embryology to support laboratory specialists in the organization and management of IVF laboratories and the optimization of IVF patient care?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structured in 13 sections, the guideline development group formulated recommendations for good practice in the organization and management of IVF laboratories, and for good practice of the specific procedures performed within the IVF laboratory.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The guideline was produced by a group of 10 embryologists representing different European countries, settings and levels of expertise. The group evaluated the document of 2008, and based on this assessment, each group member rewrote one or more sections. Two 2-day meetings were organized during which each of the recommendations was discussed and rewritten until consensus within the guideline group was reached. After finalizing the draft, the members of the ESHRE SIG embryology were invited to review the guideline.
  
  
  METHODS
  NA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guideline provides recommendations on the general organization of an IVF laboratory (staffing and direction, quality management, laboratory safety), and on the specific aspects of the procedures performed in IVF laboratories (Identification of patients and traceability of their reproductive cells, consumables, handling of biological material, oocyte retrieval, sperm preparation, insemination of oocytes, scoring for fertilization, embryo culture and transfer, and cryopreservation). A last section provides recommendations regarding an Emergency plan for IVF laboratories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence on most of the issues described is scarce, and therefore it was decided not to perform a formal search for and assessment of scientific evidence. However, recommendations published in the EUTCD and relevant and recent documents, manuals and consensus papers were taken into account when formulating the recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the limitations, the guideline group is confident that this document will be helpful to directors and managers involved in the management and organization of IVF laboratories, but also to embryologists and laboratory technicians performing daily tasks.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The guideline was developed and funded by ESHRE, covering expenses associated with the guideline meetings. The guideline group members did not receive payment. Dr Coticchio reports speaker's fees from IBSA and Cook, outside the submitted work; Dr Lundin reports grants from Vitrolife, personal fees from Merck Serono, non-financial support from Unisense, outside the submitted work; Dr. Rienzi reports personal fees from Merck Serono, personal fees from MSD, grants from GFI, outside the submitted work; the other authors had nothing to disclose.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NA.
authors.affiliation: IVI Valencia, Valencia, Spain mariajose.delossantos@ivi.es.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: De los Santos
authors.affiliation: Fertilitetscentrum Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.affiliation: Biogenesi, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coticchio
authors.affiliation: Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Debrock
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.affiliation: Inst. Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Plancha
authors.affiliation: Hospital HM Montepríncipe, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prados
authors.affiliation: Genera c/o Clinica Valle Giulia, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rienzi
authors.affiliation: UZ Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verheyen
authors.affiliation: IVF Consultancy Services, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Grimbergen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000592:standards; D004626:Embryology / Q000458:organization & administration; D004630:Emergencies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012955:Societies, Medical; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: ESHRE; Embryology; IVF guidelines; good practice; laboratory; special interest group