To ensure the highest level of quality and patient service, Coastal Fertility Medical Center has 3 laboratories located at our Irvine facility. These laboratories provide services covering the entire range of testing, diagnosis and clinical applications available in Reproductive Technologies today.

Clinical Laboratory
The clinical laboratory is responsible for the collection, testing and reporting of blood hormone levels in patients undergoing treatment. Utilizing state-of-the-art analyzers, our laboratory is able to provide the physicians with results within a few hours of specimen collection. This quick turnaround time allows the physician to carefully monitor the patient's response to treatment and adjust the treatment plan when necessary. This laboratory is under the supervision of a California licensed medical technologist and is fully licensed as a reference laboratory by the state of California.

Andrology Laboratory
The andrology laboratory performs all the evaluation, testing, preparation and storage of sperm specimens for our patients. Diagnostic procedures include complete semen analysis and post-thaw observation of frozen specimens. Furthermore, we are able to assess sperm function, not just number and movement, by conducting a sperm penetration test utilizing eggs from hamsters. The results of this test provide the physician with important information that is utilized to determine the optimal treatment plan. Semen cryopreservation (freezing) and storage is routinely performed in our laboratory to provide patients with additional partner samples when a fresh specimen is not available. In addition, our laboratory can assist patients with the ordering and storage of donor sperm specimens when requested. The andrology laboratory is also responsible for preparing semen specimens for intrauterine insemination. The laboratory is staffed by 2 full-time andrologists with more than 15 years of combined experience in this laboratory. The andrology laboratory at Coastal Fertility Medical Center is licensed by the state of California and the federal government (CLIA) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Reproductive Laboratory Program.

Embryology Laboratory
The embryology laboratory provides extensive services related to the collection, handling, preparation, culture and storage of human gametes (sperm and eggs). Due to the sensitive nature of its' duties, the embryology laboratory is located in a secure and sterile area away from the rest of the clinic facilities. The laboratory is responsible for identifying oocytes (eggs) in ovarian fluid, culturing these eggs with the partner's sperm, and observing early embryo development prior to embryo replacement into the patient. Advanced technologies including Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), assisted hatching, blastocyst culture and embryo cryopreservation are all offered in our laboratory. In an effort to provide our patients with the best available laboratory services, we have had an established program since 2001 for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). This technique will allow us to screen embryos for various genetic abnormalities prior to embryo transfer. Two full-time embryologists with over 25 years of combined clinical human embryology experience staff the embryology laboratory. This laboratory is licensed by the state of California and accredited by the CAP Reproductive Laboratory Program.

Surgery Center - Irvine Multi-Specialty Surgical Care (IMSC)
Irvine Multi-Specialty Surgical Care (IMSC) is a center of excellence dedicated to state-of-the-art medicine, convenience, accessibility, streamlined admissions and application of many advanced outpatient surgical techniques. The center has been developed to provide area physicians and their patients with a high-quality alternative to both hospital-based surgery and existing surgery centers. The surgery center has three Operating Rooms, a six-bed acute Recovery Room and a two station Phase II Recovery Area. Physicians and their staff have available for their use a waiting room, lounge and lockers. Lunch is also provided daily.

Commitment to Quality Care
The entire laboratory staff at Coastal Fertility Medical Center is committed to providing patients with the best possible care. The laboratories are under the direction of Thom Nass, Ph.D. who has been directing human embryology laboratories since 1983. Dr. Nass is also certified as a High-Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD) by the American Board of Bioanalysis. All laboratory staff undergo extensive training under direct observation prior to providing services to patients. Additionally, all staff are required to participate in ongoing training and continuous education programs provided by professional societies, physicians and supervisors to maintain excellence in their duties.