Almost No Embryos Viable After Fertility Clinic Mishap In Ohio

CLEVELAND, OH — It is "unlikely" that any of the embryos or eggs that were exposed to a temperature fluctuation at a University Hospitals fertility clinic are viable. CEO Tom Zenty also said the hospital system's initial estimation of how many patients were impacted by the event was too low.

"I can't say it any more plainly, we failed our fertility clinic patients. We are sorry. I am sorry," Zenty said in a video statement released by the hospital system. "We're going to do everything we can to regain our patients trust."

In a letter sent to patients, the hospital system said the fertility clinic's storage tank's remote alarm system had been turned off. That alarm system was meant to alert UH employees to temperature swings. That alarm was off throughout the weekend, when the temperature fluctuations started.

"An alarm should have been sent and received. We don’t know who turned off the remote alarm nor do we know how long it was off, but it appears to have been off for a period of time. We are still seeking those answers," the hospital system said in the letter.

The hospital system also knew there was something wrong with its storage tanks — specifically its ability to automatically refill its needed liquid nitrogen — and was preparing to switch to a new tank. Staff had to manually refill the tanks with liquid nitrogen during this time and it now appears that the liquid nitrogen levels were below what was needed.

"These failures should not have happened, we take responsibility for them – and we are so sorry that our failures caused such a devastating loss for you," the hospital system said in its letter.

Word of a malfunction at a University Hospitals fertility clinic first broke in early March. At that time, it was unclear how many of the eggs and embryos kept in storage were impacted. Estimates ranged around 2,000. The hospital system now says more than 4,000 specimens were damaged.

The fertility clinic stored eggs and embryos for women undergoing in vitro fertilization, women donating eggs and women hoping to start pregnancy in later years of their life. More than 950 patients were likely impacted by this incident.

"We're refunding storage fees to date," Zenty said in a video shared by the hospital system. He said patients are also being offered medical and emotional support through University Hospitals.

"As much as you want answers to this terrible situation, we do too," he said. The hospital's internal investigation into the matter is continuing and they're asking for assistance from other organizations to develop best practices.

Photo from University Hospitals