Overview
Cleveland Clinic IVF laboratory and associated research laboratories create a unique environment for clinical care and development of innovative technology to improve clinical outcomes.
State-of-the-Art Equipment
- The IVF laboratory and research labs encompass approximately 4,000 square feet and contain state-of-the art equipment. The lab facility has 16 incubators, 14 microscopes and four micromanipulation stations for oocyte injection, embryo/blastocyst biopsy and assisted hatching, as well as freezers.
- Multiple image analysis, videography and fluorescence microscopy stations throughout the laboratory areas allow for detailed study of human oocytes, embryos and sperm. Morphometric study of human embryo development and correlation to cycle specific parameters using the IVF research database is another powerful research tool used by the lab to study parameters impacting IVF success.
- Other equipment in the lab include a non-contact Octax laser for opening the embryonic zona, embryo biopsy and laser ablation of cells. Meiotic spindles in living oocytes are visualized non-invasively using polarized light and the Oosight Imaging System. This amazing new tool has been instrumental in developing cryopreservation protocols for human eggs and assessing disturbances in meiotic spindle formation after warming.
- The research laboratory is also equipped with a cell fusion device to enable nuclear transfer experiments and an ELISA plate reader for growth factor and hormone assays. The research laboratory has several active animal protocols and an on-site laboratory for surgical dissections.
Comprehensive Facilities and Locations
Cleveland Clinic is a mega-complex located at numerous sites. In addition to the comprehensive facilities at the Beachwood location, staff and researchers also have access to the network of services offered at the downtown Cleveland Clinic campus. Cleveland Clinic‘s Lerner Research Institute and its core laboratories comprise an integrated research community and are the hallmark of Cleveland Clinic's interdisciplinary approach to research.
Research Internships
Research internships for medical students as well as post-doctoral fellows are offered to qualified candidates on a competitive basis.
Join Us on Facebook!
For women undergoing fertility treatments or their friends and family members, Cleveland Clinic's Fertility Group on Facebook is a great resource. Our goal: To foster discussion of issues associated with fertility/infertility and provide a supportive, informative page that serves as a resource for patients working through these issues.
IVF Success Rates
Reproductive Endocrinology
While the success rates for in vitro fertilization (IVF) continue to improve over time, the patient’s age is the strongest predictor of success. Cleveland Clinic’s In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory employs cutting-edge technology for the culture, growth and assessment of embryos.
The laboratory’s extensive database allows tracking and analysis of morphologic features of embryos most likely to result in pregnancies. Our exceptional research laboratory has been instrumental in developing and advancing novel technologies for cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes and individually selected sperm.
Accreditation, Registration and Licensure
The In Vitro Fertilization and Andrology laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists and are registered with the Society of American Reproductive Technology (SART ).
The laboratory is also licensed by the FDA as a facility qualified to handle Human Cell and Tissue Products (HCTP) for donation and surrogacy. Clinical pregnancy outcome data for this clinic is reported on a yearly basis and published by the CDC and National Institute of Health (NIH).
