Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are both assisted reproduction treatments, but their laboratory requirements differ significantly in complexity, equipment and regulatory burden.
IUI Laboratory Requirements
IUI involves preparing a sperm sample in the andrology laboratory – washing, concentrating and selecting motile sperm – and then placing the prepared sperm directly into the uterus. No eggs are retrieved, no fertilisation occurs in the laboratory and no embryos are created. The laboratory requirement for IUI is primarily andrology-focused: sperm analysis, preparation and in some cases cryopreservation of donor sperm using CBS High Security Straws and a controlled rate freezer.
IVF Laboratory Requirements
IVF involves egg retrieval, fertilisation in the laboratory, embryo culture, assessment and selection, and either fresh or frozen transfer. The IVF laboratory requires incubators, micromanipulation equipment, a vitrification system, liquid nitrogen storage, cryogenic consumables and the full range of safety and traceability infrastructure.
An andrology laboratory can operate under a simpler HFEA licence covering sperm storage and IUI without embryo creation. The moment a clinic moves into IVF – creating embryos in the laboratory – the regulatory requirements, equipment specification and consumable needs increase substantially.
Cryolab supplies the full range of consumables for both andrology and IVF laboratory functions. Contact us or use CryoGPT for guidance.
