English: The operation of the IVF Laboratory in many respects is similar to the operation of a neonatal intensive care unit since it requires exacting standards just like providing life support for premature babies. Therefore, the maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment is of paramount importance. Everyday maintenance tasks are performed by the laboratory staff while additional technical and logistical support is provided by the Alta Bates Medical Center engineers. The benefits of affiliation with a major hospital include 24/7 on-site support by engineers for tasks that require such expertise. The combination of continuous maintenance by laboratory staff and ready availability of engineering support ensures the smooth operation of all instruments and equipment.

The Alta Bates Summit Medical Center also provides multiple levels of state of the art security to guarantee that only authorized personnel have access to the laboratory. Limiting access to authorized personnel is just one of the measures to maintain the security and cleanliness of the laboratory.

Authorized personnel must wear scrubs, shoe covers and surgical hats before entering the lab. The embryo laboratory is equipped with a HEPA air filtration system that creates positive pressure by pumping in clean air. The positive pressure prevents dust particles from entering the lab while the air inside the lab is continuously filtered.