By Xinli Yang, PhD, HCLD, Lab Director at Collab Fertility, an East Bay fertility clinic

If you're considering in vitro fertilization (IVF), you're probably asking yourself, "How can I be sure the lab is scientifically advanced, will safeguard my frozen embryos, eggs, and sperm, and maximize my chances of a successful IVF pregnancy?" I understand how overwhelming this process can feel, so I've put together the top 5 questions to ask a fertility clinic about their IVF lab.

As the Lab Director at Collab Fertilty and with more than three decades of experience in assisted reproduction, I understand the importance of leveraging scientifically advanced, evidence-based equipment and methods to achieve positive fertility outcomes. It is a great honor to help people grow their families at our Bay Area fertility clinic and state-of-the-art IVF lab. 

最成功的试管婴儿实验室为胚胎发育创造最佳条件，并采用先进的实验室设备和严格的安全协议。试管婴儿治疗的成功取决于技术娴熟的胚胎学家的专业知识，他们以卓越的科学和严格的质量控制为基础，精准地开展工作。

So, how do you ensure you choose the best possible fertility clinic and IVF lab?  Here are five key questions to ask: 

1.您使用哪种类型的培养箱？

In an IVF lab, the incubator is much more than just a storage space; it is a high-tech "synthetic womb" that protects your future child during their most vulnerable first days.

The best IVF labs create an environment that perfectly mirrors the internal condition of the human body after the embryologists fertilize the eggs. 

At Collab Fertilty, our Walnut Creek facility is equipped with advanced benchtop incubators, which represent a significant leap over older "large-box" models. The benefits of this specialized equipment include: 

• Individualized sanctity: We use a "multi-room" design in which each patient has a dedicated, private chamber. This ensures that your embryos are never exposed to the outside air when we need to check on another patient's progress.
  
  
• Unwavering stability: By eliminating frequent door openings, we maintain a flawless balance of temperature and gas composition for the full 5–6 day culture period.
  

Superior outcomes: This "zero-disturbance" philosophy is the cornerstone of our success. It allows our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)—specifically our blastocyst development and pregnancy rates—to consistently lead the way, surpassing established international standards

2.贵实验室的空气洁净度如何，使用哪种空气质量控制系统？

保持试管婴儿实验室的清洁空气质量对胚胎安全和成功发育至关重要。室内和室外污染都会严重影响胚胎和试管婴儿治疗的成功率。 

最好的试管婴儿实验室拥有非常先进的空气净化和暖通空调系统，以保持空气清洁和理想的实验室温度。 

Collab 使用LifeAire®，这是一种先进的空气净化系统，可中和空气中高达 99.99% 的生物和化学污染物。我们还配备了暖通空调系统，以保持实验室内温度的稳定。我们的所有实验室系统和设备都与备用发电机相连，以防停电。

最好的试管婴儿实验室拥有非常先进的空气净化和暖通空调系统，以保持空气清洁和理想的实验室温度。

Collab 使用LifeAire®，这是一种先进的空气净化系统，可中和空气中高达 99.99% 的生物和化学污染物。我们还配备了暖通空调系统，以保持实验室内温度的稳定。我们的所有实验室系统和设备都与备用发电机相连，以防停电。

3.卵子、胚胎和精子存放在哪里？

如上所述，在试管婴儿实验室中，培养的胚胎被储存在培养箱中。不立即使用的胚胎、卵子和精子则使用玻璃化技术冷冻，并储存在液氮罐中。 

The best IVF labs use liquid nitrogen tanks that are vacuum-insulated, not powered by electricity, and monitored 24/7. The tanks are kept at a temperature of -196°C, which allows for safe, long-time storage, and are placed in a secure lab space.

Here at Collab, we use a cryopreservation technique called embryo vitrification to rapidly cool embryos and solidify them into a glass-like structure. We then place the frozen embryos in liquid nitrogen tanks and store them in a highly secure place. We monitor the temperature of the tanks 24/7, with alarms notifying us immediately if the temperature changes. 

4.您有哪些安全措施，例如警报器和发电机？

由于卵子、胚胎和精子具有高度敏感性，因此必须在精确的条件下储存，以确保其安全可靠。

最好的实验室都安装有全天候的安全摄像头、跟踪温度和实验室设备性能的多个警报器，以及提供不间断备用电源的专用发电机。

Collab 实验室位于东湾不孕不育诊所内，为了确保实验室的质量控制和安全，我们采取了许多检查和平衡措施。我们全天候监控培养箱和其他设备。如果某个参数超出正常范围，报警系统会立即联系团队成员。我们每天都会检查警报系统。我们的培养箱和其他设备都连接有自动备用发电机，以防停电。我们每周都会对发电机进行测试。 

最好的实验室都安装有全天候的安全摄像头、跟踪温度和实验室设备性能的多个警报器，以及提供不间断备用电源的专用发电机。

Collab 实验室位于东湾不孕不育诊所内，为了确保实验室的质量控制和安全，我们采取了许多检查和平衡措施。我们全天候监控培养箱和其他设备。如果某个参数超出正常范围，报警系统会立即联系团队成员。我们每天都会检查警报系统。我们的培养箱和其他设备都连接有自动备用发电机，以防停电。我们每周都会对发电机进行测试。

5.胚胎实验室/手术中心是在现场还是在其他地方？

一些不孕不育诊所有自己的实验室，而另一些则依赖于由与诊所没有直接联系的个人管理的非现场第三方实验室。 

The best fertility clinics feature in-house labs where skilled embryologists manage lab operations under the supervision of a lead embryologist certified as a high-complexity clinical laboratory director.

At Collab, our lab is the heart of our Walnut Creek fertility clinic. We invest in state-of-the-art technology to maximize your fertility outcomes. Our dedicated embryologists are meticulous scientists with a deep passion for our work. We handle each egg and embryo with the highest level of care, and nothing brings us more joy than helping you bring new life into the world.

结论

我怎么强调实验室在生育治疗中的作用都不为过。是的，你需要一位技术精湛的生殖医生，但试管婴儿的成功同样取决于实验室的运作和工作人员。试管婴儿实验室是不孕不育治疗的重要组成部分，在这里，科学和专业技术汇聚在一起，为患者提供建立或发展家庭的最佳机会。

您是否对 Collab 的试管婴儿实验室或一般生育诊所和实验室有更多疑问？请联系我们。我们将为您答疑解惑，提供支持。 

Your trust is our priority, and we are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in laboratory operations. We are proud to hold the following accreditations and certifications:

• SART 成员:辅助生殖技术协会会员
• 通过 CLIA 认证:符合《临床实验室改进修正案》，确保全美所有临床实验室达到高质量标准。
• FDA 注册:已在美国食品和药物管理局注册
• CAP 认证正在进行中:目前正在申请美国病理学家学会的认证

Xinli Yang, PhD, HCLD
Lab Director

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Dr. Yang, a leading embryologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, has worked in the field of assisted reproduction for more than three decades. As an experienced and highly respected lab director, she has trained innumerable practicing Bay Area embryologists.

‍Bolstered by her steadfast commitment to quality control in the lab, Dr. Yang is passionate about helping patients overcome fertility challenges and fulfill their dreams of parenthood with personalized and comprehensive care. Her goal at Collab Fertility is to lead a high-performance IVF lab team that is dedicated to each patient and embryo.

After securing her medical degree in China, she emigrated to the United States and worked as a research scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles. Prior to joining Colla,b she was a lab supervisor at the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health and lab director at CARE Fertility. At both centers, she developed state-of-the-art operations and ensured precision-based performances.

In her leisure time, she enjoys being with her family, gardening,  cooking, reading, and hiking.

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自豪地支持当地社区
Collab Fertility 很荣幸能为东湾的家庭提供服务，如丹维尔、阿拉莫、奥林达、拉斐特、莫拉加、皮德蒙特和胡桃溪，以及湾区内外的许多其他社区，包括奥克兰、圣拉蒙、康科德、欢乐山、圣罗莎、诺瓦托、纳帕、索诺玛等。

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