Since 1998, the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) laboratory at PAMF has earned certification with distinction by the College of American Pathologists. The IVF laboratory offers state-of-the-art procedures such as:

• Assisted hatching
• Blastocyst culture
• Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation (freezing) and banking
• Embryo biopsy
• Fertilization
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
• Oocyte recovery
• Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)

All PAMF IVF laboratory equipment is monitored 24/7 for proper safety and optimal conditions for eggs and embryos. Our cryogenic tanks undergo extensive safety monitoring by cryogenic experts. The laboratory features the most current air filtration systems to protect eggs and embryos from harmful air pollutants.

We strive every day to ensure a safe and successful environment for our patient’s precious eggs and embryos, and we’re proud of our outstanding record. We continuously monitor our lab’s excellent outcomes with an extensive quality management program.

About Our Team

Since 1997, the IVF laboratory has operated under the leadership of Marina Gvakharia, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Gvakharia is board certified as a High-Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD) and Embryology Laboratory Director (ELD) by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).

Dr. Gvakharia received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Tbilisi State Medical Institute (Tbilisi, Georgia). She completed her IVF and andrology lab training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where she was actively involved in research and development of such revolutionary techniques as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo biopsy for genetic testing. Dr. Gvakharia has developed nationally and internationally recognized safety, training and quality management systems for IVF and has added many leading technologies to the IVF lab procedure list, such as preimplantation genetic testing, blastocyst culture and time-lapse imaging. Dr. Gvakharia is board certified in embryology and andrology by the ABB and has served as president of the College of Reproductive Biology (CRB). She is a voting member of the ABB Board of Directors and is actively involved in the development of certification standards and examinations for reproductive biology professionals. Dr. Gvakharia is a member of the presidential chain of the Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT) and will serve as its president in 2024.

Laboratory supervisor Kausi Sellakkannu, M. S. and senior embryologists Sue Lee, M.S. and Yining Li, Ph.D. are ABB board certified as Technical Supervisors in clinical embryology and andrology. Senior embryologist Sandra Ortiz, B.S. is certified as Embryology Laboratory Scientist (ELS) by the American Board of Registry (ABOR).

Collectively, our team offers over 70 years of experience with IVF lab procedures.