ESHRE Recommendations on Good Practice in the IVF laboratory
The ESHRE IVF labs working group updated the recommendations on the general organisation of an IVF laboratory, including staffing and direction, quality management and laboratory safety. The update also covers specific procedures performed in IVF laboratories, such as patient identification and traceability, consumables, handling of biological material, oocyte retrieval, sperm preparation, insemination, fertilisation scoring, embryo culture and transfer, cryopreservation and emergency procedures.
New with this update is the decision by the working group to split up the section on embryo culture and embryo transfer, expanding the part on sperm preparation to cover all general andrological procedures. Lastly, a new chapter on the embryo biopsy procedure has been introduced.
The updated Good Practice Recommendations paper is now open for stakeholder review, between 3 February and 3 March 2026.
How to participate:
- Read the draft recommendations
- Download the reviewer form
- Send the completed reviewer form to guidelines@eshre.eu before 3 March.
On behalf of the IVF labs working group.