Healthcare Design - November/December 2024 - 39

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it, the internal conditions of the lab need to mimic the conditions inside
the body. For example, outside air intake locations are determined based
on the building's surrounding environment and should be far from a busy
street due to automobile exhaust and fumes.
Because embryos can be damaged or lost if the power goes out or the
environment changes, labs need robust emergency backup power, medical
gas connection points, and a 24-hour mechanical system. Backup for
lights, mechanical systems, and electricity should be at least 24 hours.
One of the biggest concerns in the embryology lab is the presence of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials. VOCs are directly toxic
to embryos and negatively impact IVF success rates. Project teams
should specify materials such as paint and construction adhesives that
have low or no VOC emissions. Like other bio labs, the surfaces, flooring,
and walls need to be easily cleanable, and there should be minimal spaces
where dust can collect.
GROWING FUTURE
As demand increases for fertility treatments, clinics will need to expand
and adapt, often increasing in size to accommodate the growing number
of patients. Expansions typically include additional exam rooms and
collection rooms, larger staff break rooms, and new PACU bays, transfer
rooms, and offices for doctors and nurses. These additions not only increase
capacity but also improve the overall patient experience.
It's essential that, while expanding, the clinic remains up and running.
In some cases, clinics set patients up on the same cycle, called batch cycling,
which can allow the andrology and embryology labs to close for 28
calendar days. During a project for Pearl Mini IVF in San Diego, Ware
Malcomb (San Diego) first transferred the less invasive spaces such as
consultation rooms and PACU bays to the new location, followed by additional
phases to continue the expansion and eventually move the exam
rooms and labs.
Providers also sometimes incorporate smaller satellite locations for
noninvasive procedures such as collecting urine samples, blood draws,
or consultations, while the central clinic focuses on labs, retrievals, and
transfers. Satellite locations help make the primary clinic's patient spaces
more manageable.
FLEXIBILITY FOR CHANGE
Because the IVF field and its associated equipment are constantly
improving and evolving, laboratories must be flexible to change. For
example, countertop incubators are quickly replacing stacked incubators
and hold more specimens in a smaller footprint. Facilities
are also removing plastic laminate counters and material storage for
movable benches.
Additionally, robotic storage is becoming a popular solution, replacing
bulky specimen dewars that take up valuable square footage. Robotic
storage can hold the same number of samples as 12 specimen dewars.
Dewars should always remain at the main clinic instead of alternative
satellite locations and be incorporated within or near the embryology lab
to ensure a controlled environment and efficiency of procedures.
As fertility practices expand and evolve, the demand for thoughtfully
designed clinics will grow. These spaces help individuals achieve their
dreams of parenthood and set a benchmark for future clinic design. 
Heather Moore is project manager at Ware Malcomb (San Diego) and can be
reached at HMOORE@WAREMALCOMB.COM.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 202 4
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Healthcare Design - November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - November/December 2024
