HUMAN ERROR MEASUREMENT AND HUMAN ERROR REDUCTION WITH ELECTRONIC WITNESSING SYSTEM (EWS)

Problem Statement: Human error in routine IVF can be measured with EWS. With our RFID chip EWS, human error can be reduced to very low levels.

Methods: 15000 IVF cycles covering the years 2016-2023 were recorded with IVFID Electronic Witnessing system. Error warning received from 36 different IVF clinics were calculated and error distribution at each IVF stage was determined. Ordinary IVF patients within patient groups were registered as well as egg donation and surrogacy, and IVF stages affected by human error were determined by calculating records of possible errors for each patient group. The system recorded the data received via electronic chip through software and calculated it statistically. Human errors from each procedure in the embryology and andrology laboratories were recorded.

Results: In our study human error data from 15,000 IVF cycles from 36 different clinics was evaluated and statistically calculated. Human error warnings were received 169 times out of 15,000 IVF cycles at different IVF process stages. Accordingly, error warnings were received 14 times during the oocyte pick up phase, 17 times during the denudation, 26 times during the ICSI, 8 times during the dish change, 68 times during the embryo transfer phase (17 of them were received during the fresh embryo transfer and 51 - during the frozen embryo transfer) and 36 times during the sperm preparation phase. Evaluation of error distribution among different clinics showed that error warnings were received from 23 out of 36 clinics at different IVF stages. Human errors were prevented by RFID electronic chip system and embryologists were warned audibly and visually on screens during the procedure. During the vitrification/thawing phase IVFID Witnessing system with the straw chip ensuring informed about 292 errors. Looking at individual embryologist performances, it is seen that error warnings were received from 32 different embryologists.

Conclusion:Regular use of EWSs in IVF laboratories is very important to avoid human error-based interferences in biological materials, and they should be used regularly in IVF laboratories. In addition, EWSs can be actively used in genetic laboratories performing PGT and biochemical laboratories.