ABSTRACT
Assisted reproduction is a field that is ideally suited for advanced data assessment although statistical evaluation is hampered by considerable complexity. The amount of data generated per single attempt can be large when including records for single cell genetics, immunology, cryopreservation, etiology, and follow up. The further separation of data from a single patient procedure into records for each embryo markedly complicates data analysis, making preimplantation embryology ideally suited for computerization. Unfortunately, the simple purchase of one or more computers alone does not provide the solution. A database system includes a good deal more than that; provision must be made to finance professional advice for networking setup and hardware, programming, system maintenance, upgrading and scaleability, programming changes, data backup and security. Only when the system is in place and a certain amount of data have been entered, can one expect to return useful results for regular patient procedure reporting, summary reports and associated functions. Data collection, storage, management, verification, and analysis can be complex and time consuming. Also, many of the computer based tasks are new to the personnel assigned to fulfill them. In vitro fertilization (IVF) programs that are prepared to make allowance for these problems in their budget can see excellent returns on their investment. An unexpected, yet major, hurdle to overcome is the level of cooperation between the embryo laboratory and the clinical and medical side of an IVF program. Because a fully functional networked computerized database system is pretty expensive, it needs planning and preparation like any other major clinical acquisition. Purchases of this nature in sizeable clinics are often politically problematic, as some will believe this to be a waste of resources and others will want to include extensive sections of data entry for research purposes or quality assurance, to name but two of
the potential areas of disagreement. Such difficulties often cause unreasonable delays in obtaining computerized database systems. A further problem is that few reproductive specialists have sufficient expertise to distinguish an excellent software solution and management plan from one that is barely adequate.
