West Valley Fertility Center Laboratories
Under the direction of Dr. Troche, West Valley Fertility Center began to offer advanced reproductive treatments in the Spring of 1997 when our In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Andrology and Endocrine Laboratories became operational. We are proud of our state-of-the-art IVF Laboratory, which is one of the most progressive in Arizona.
New procedures and findings are incorporated into practice as quickly as possible. The Laboratory provides services related to all aspects of assisted reproductive technologies including: oocyte identification, in vitro fertilization, oocyte/embryo culture, blastocyst culture, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), assisted hatching, embryo biopsy for pre-implantation genetic Screening (PGS), embryo cryopreservation, and embryo thawing (any stage).
IVF Laboratory Accreditations and Certifications
West Valley Fertility Center's IVF lab is certified by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which regulates all laboratory testing performed on humans in the United Stated through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA). The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is responsible for the accreditation of our Embryology, Andrology, and Endocrine Laboratories. Our most recent on-site inspection and accreditation by CAP was in February 2007. CAP is the leader for advocating laboratory Quality Assurance (QA) and setting the highest standard to achieve excellence in patient fertility care. West Valley Fertility Center also participates in the strictest proficiency-testing program sponsored by the College of American Pathologists.
Our Andrology Laboratory
The Andrology Laboratory performs diagnostic procedures such as complete semen analyses with strict morphology criteria (Kruger), and sperm viability tests. These tests are scheduled by appointment and results are available within one to two days depending on the test. The laboratory processes all sperm samples (donor sperm, husband, or retrograde) to be used for intrauterine insemination treatment cycles (IUI), and for oocyte insemination for IVF. In addition, the Andrology Laboratory has a very active testicular tissue and sperm cryopreservation program. Our technologists assist during testicular tissue collection by first identifying sperm in the collected tissue and later by the cryopreservation of this tissue for later use. The laboratory offers cryopreserved (frozen) sperm storage to cancer patients, for directed donation samples, and for autologous (self) samples. The Andrology laboratory functions under the strict guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and is compliant with all OSHA regulations.
Our Endocrine Laboratory
The Endocrine Laboratory is responsible for all hormonal testing performed during the IVF treatment cycles. The tests performed are: estradiol, prolactin, progesterone and quantitative beta-HCG levels. All hormonal testing is done in the office and results are available on the day the blood is drawn.
Miok Humme, BS, ELD, TS (ABB) is a certified Embryology Laboratory Director and also a technical supervisor for the Andrology and Endocrine laboratory. Vladimir Troche, MD is West Valley Fertility Center's Medical and Laboratory director.
Last updated:
June 4, 2008
Reviewed by Dr. Vladimir Troche and his medical staff