An IVF laboratory and an andrology laboratory are both found within fertility clinics, but they serve different primary functions and require different equipment and consumables.
An IVF laboratory is where embryos are created, cultured, assessed and cryopreserved. The core equipment includes incubators, micromanipulation systems, vitrification consumables and liquid nitrogen storage vessels for long-term embryo and oocyte storage.
An andrology laboratory focuses on the assessment, preparation and cryopreservation of sperm. Semen analysis, sperm preparation for IUI and IVF, surgical sperm retrieval processing and sperm cryopreservation are all andrology functions. The core equipment includes sperm counting chambers, centrifuges, controlled rate freezers and liquid nitrogen storage for long-term sperm banking.
In smaller fertility clinics, the IVF and andrology functions may share physical space and some equipment. In larger centres and dedicated sperm banks, they operate as distinct departments with separate quality management systems and HFEA inspection requirements.
The consumables differ significantly. IVF laboratories use CBS High Security Vitrification Kits, carrier devices and embryo culture media. Andrology laboratories use CBS High Security Straws, controlled rate freezers and sperm counting chambers. For guidance on equipping either laboratory, contact Cryolab or use CryoGPT.
