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The Case of the Misread Lab Report March 5, 2005

My IVF coordinator called me back this morning. She was so worried about the whole situation that she went up to the office this morning to speak with the embryologist and lab manager. Guess what? She was just reading the lab report incorrectly. That’s right. My total freak out session yesterday was all for naught.

Background: When the sperm was frozen immediately after my husband’s surgery, it was frozen in 2 vials of about 15 million sperm each.

What I was told happened: One vial of 15 million was used for my first cycle and then discarded while the other was divided and refrozen, leaving five vials of 100,000 sperm each.

What really happened: During my first fresh cycle, they took one vial of 15 million and divided it into 6 aliquots. One aliquot was used for my first fresh cycle and another was used for my second fresh cycle leaving 4 aliquots. The other vial of 15 million was never touched. So, we do have 5 vials left, but one of those vials contains half of our sperm. The 100,000 figure for the sperm in the aliquots is just an estimate of viable sperm.

So, we have what I thought we had, and yesterday was just a huge misunderstanding. They’re going to call the SCSA people to make sure, but it looks like we can use the vial of 15 million to do the SCSA test, and still have 4 aliquots left (ie. enough to do 4 more fresh cycles).

It’s insane that I went through hell yesterday because of a misread lab report. I’m just glad everything’s ok now, and I’m glad my IVF coordinator went and got everything figured out today so I don’t have to freak out about it all weekend. Because really, I just don’t need the extra stress.

Comments»

1. NSR - March 5, 2005

I’m sorry you had to go through this, Amanda. That’s great that now you will be able to get the test done as planned.

Nina

2. Heather - March 5, 2005

What a RELIEF. I swear, nothing about any of this can ever be easy, can it? I’m just so glad they figured out it was nothing but an error.

And now, onward!

3. Pamplemousse - March 5, 2005

Amanda, I am so sorry that you are having to deal with all this crap. At least it has been sorted out for now and your weekend is not toally ruined.

4. ms pickled eggs - March 5, 2005

Thank fuck for that! Good luck with the SCSA.

5. deborah - March 5, 2005

Freaking idiots…all of ‘em. So glad they were wrong.

6. FuzzButt - March 5, 2005

Thank G-d! I’m sorry you had to have this stress session (I can’t IMAGINE), but so glad it turned out to be a misunderstand rather than a “flub”
Best of luck with the SCSA!!!

7. Brenda Sumner - March 5, 2005

Jeeebus.

With all the stress they’re dishing out… they need to supply you with ati
van to calm your nerves.

8. Galloping Cats - March 5, 2005

oh my god. What a relief. Have been thinking about you all day and am so glad to hear it was an error. So sorry you had to suffer through the terror in the meantime.

9. Dawn - March 5, 2005

Thank God it was a mistake Amanda…thank God.

10. Suz - March 5, 2005

I’m so glad. I’m also happy that the nurse was able to correct her initial error, but geez - not to read a lab report that important correctly - not good.

11. Menita - March 5, 2005

WTF? And they put you through that hell because THEY CAN’T READ???
Oh Amanda, I am so angry for you.
And hugely relieved that the news is much better than what those nitwits had told you.

12. Jenn - March 6, 2005

Geez, glad it worked out.

13. Anonymous - March 6, 2005

I am so relieved for you! And I’m also so angry too, I second Menita’s comment…WTF? Why can’t they read a lab report correctly, um, like it’s their J-O-B.

xxoo,
Emily