As reproductive technology has evolved, patients have also become more aware of the impact a fertility clinic's laboratory can have on family-building outcomes. The embryology lab at NYU Langone Fertility Center is one of the leading labs in the world, with high success rates year after year.
At NYU Langone Fertility Center (NYULFC), we have a proud history of advancing fertility treatments by combining cutting-edge technology with personalized care to deliver exceptional patient outcomes.
In December 2022, we opened our new, state-of-the-art, 2,000-square-foot laboratory. Designed with HEPA air filtration and equipped with the latest technologies, this facility is built to serve the needs of our current and future patients for years to come. Our lab is dedicated to optimizing embryo culture conditions and implementing emerging technologies, such as advanced Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). PGT screens embryos for genetic abnormalities, allowing us to select the healthiest embryos for implantation, improving pregnancy outcomes, and reducing the risk of genetic disorders.
NYULFC has long been a pioneer in the field of fertility preservation. Our lab scientists were among the first globally to establish egg freezing as a viable option for women. Groundbreaking work conducted at NYULFC contributed to the removal of the “experimental” label from egg freezing in 2011, transforming it into a mainstream treatment. With 20+ years of expertise, we continue to lead in this field, achieving success rates for frozen and thawed eggs comparable to those of fresh eggs.
Our team is actively engaged in research to enhance the understanding of molecular and biological processes in preimplantation development. This research drives improvements in key areas, including egg freezing and warming techniques, sperm selection for fertilization, and embryo selection for implantation. In addition to conducting in-house studies, we collaborate with external labs and institutions to advance the frontiers of fertility research and innovation.
At our laboratory, the safe handling and storage of specimens—including sperm, eggs, embryos, and other biological materials—is a vital component of patient care and successful outcomes. Every procedure follows rigorous protocols to ensure complete tracking and accurate labeling of all tissues.
Once specimens are frozen, they are preserved in tanks maintained at extremely low temperatures using liquid nitrogen (LN2). This process effectively freezes the specimens in time, preserving their viability for future use.
Our storage tanks are equipped with advanced temperature monitoring systems that continuously track and regulate the storage environment. These systems are supported by automated alarms that operate 24/7/365 (or 366 days during leap years), ensuring that lab staff are immediately alerted in the rare event of an emergency.
Access to laboratories and storage areas is tightly controlled, restricted to authorized and qualified personnel only. Additionally, all equipment undergoes regular maintenance and testing to ensure optimal performance and reliability. This includes monitoring liquid nitrogen levels, maintaining precise temperature regulation, and promptly addressing any potential system issues.
To further safeguard specimens, comprehensive contingency plans are in place. These include backup power systems such as emergency generators and universal power supply (UPS) units, along with an on-call team ready to respond to emergencies.
Your specimens are managed with the utmost care, precision, and security, giving you confidence in their safety and future use.
The lab is the core of the fertility center. Eggs, sperm, and embryos are fragile biological specimens that need carefully-controlled conditions to support their development and sustain viability. Culture conditions at these early preimplantation stages have a direct effect on implantation and live birth rates, but also can impact subsequent development and longterm health of children born as a result of these treatments.
"We treat our patients as we would want our loved ones to be cared for, with kindness, compassion, honesty, and transparency. In the lab, focusing on every detail ensures the highest quality standard of care."
– Caroline McCaffrey, Ph.D., H.C.L.D.,
Embryology Lab Director
Our laboratory features 24/7 alarm monitoring that has direct alerts to lab management and lab staff, restricted access to lab areas accessible only by authorized staff, camera monitoring on all routes to the lab, and double-witnessing of all specimens.
We have implantation rates of >62% in patients 37 years old and younger using their own eggs. Our standard or priority is single embryo transfer for women of all ages especially with PGTA testing. We performed > 1,100 egg thaw procedures for patients using their own eggs with outcomes comparable to fresh eggs.
The team speaks with patients immediately before egg retrieval and embryo transfers to confirm identity and the treatment plan, and to offer reassurance. Lab management, embryologists, and assistants are available to speak to patients before, during, or after the cycle, if necessary. We do, however, believe skilled embryologists should primarily focus on the important, highly technical skills in the lab, taking care of the eggs, sperm, and embryos we are handling. The physicians and clinical staff at NYULFC excel at keeping patients aware and informed.
Customized care for each patient, attention to detail, a dedicated staff who cares deeply, and highly-skilled teams with years of embryology lab experience.
