Double-quality control reveals high-level toxicity in gloves used for operator protection in assisted reproductive technology

Reprotoxicity of intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer disposables and products: a 4-year survey

“…This survey confirms that the SpST is an easy and inexpensive method that can detect possible reprotoxicity of materials used in ART laboratories (22,27,30,31,35). Human sperm diagnosis and preparation techniques are standardized in house procedures for each ART laboratory, therefore no additional technique has to be mastered by the laboratory technicians to perform the SpST.…”

“…Boar (41) and canine (42) sperm cell motility was significantly affected by exposure of even 1 minute to latex surgical gloves. Liermann et al (35) as well as Critchlow and colleagues (27) identified high levels of toxicity in 14 types of latex and polypropylene gloves used for operator protection in human ART. The importance of identification of the specific types of reprotoxic gloves was stressed by the latter study, as they found that the toxic substances of the gloves were transferred to the embryo transfer catheter, even after a very brief contact.…”

Peroxides in mineral oil used for in vitro fertilization: defining limits of standard quality control assays

“…The HSMA is an easy and inexpensive assay that detects toxicity of certain laboratory materials [12]. Sensitivity of the HSMA is comparable or superior to those of the mouse embryo assay for latex gloves and some laboratory supplies [11,21]. The HSMA also detects endotoxins in contact supplies and culture media [22].…”

Effect of powdered gloves, worn at the time of embryo transfer, on the pregnancy outcome of IVF cycles

“…There is no doubt now that the powder of the gloves used is toxic when it comes in contact with embryos. Furthermore the un-powdered gloves were shown to be also embryotoxic and this toxicity depended on the commercial brand of the gloves used [6,8]. But it is very unlikely that the embryos, or even the embryo transfer catheter, will come in contact with the gloves or their powder during the embryo transfer procedure if direct contact is avoided.…”

“…But to complete the picture, it was later shown that even un-powdered gloves are embryo-toxic and that this toxicity depended on the commercial brand [6][7][8]. It was recommended to keep testing the available gloves as part of an ongoing quality control program in the IVF unit [8].…”