Precautionary measures due to COVID-19 global outbreak
- maintenance of WHO, ESHRE, EODY(national organization of public health) and EAIYA (national authority of medically artificial reproduction) recommendations
- continuous communication and update of the embryologists for the global view of the scientific community concerning COVID-19 spread and the impact on fertility patients
- handling all embryos and gametes as if they were potentially contaminated with SARS-Cov-2
- multiple dilutions of embryos and oocytes in order to minimize viral load if any present in the biological (follicular and semen) fluid
- placement of extra air purifiers, inside the laboratories, equipped with UV lamps that seem to destroy viral, bacterial and fungal DNA and RNA
- usage of special disinfectants for surfaces, incubators and hoods which are microbiocide and virucide but show at the same time, non toxic effect on human embryos and gametes (active ingredients: Quaternary ammonium compounds)
- meticulous and frequently repeated routine cleaning
- use of high safety cryostorage devices
- storage of all cryopreserved embryos, created from February 2020, in a separate dewar
