Defining the typical work environment for assisted reproductive technology laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To determine time and staffing requirements as they relate to laboratory personnel in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

DESIGN: Descriptive study.

SETTING: Assisted reproductive technology clinics in the United States. PERSONNEL: All personnel working in ART laboratories, which included laboratory directors and technicians (those laboratory personnel trained in specific areas of embryology, andrology, and endocrinology).

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES(S): Frequencies were determined for time and staffing requirements as they pertained to individuals and procedures (e.g., oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, semen analysis, hormone assay, etc.) performed in embryology, andrology, and endocrine laboratories.

RESULT(S): Two different surveys of ART clinics in the United States were combined in this report. The average technician worked 40 hours a week, whereas the average laboratory director worked 49 hours per week. The average embryologist performed 181 procedures (not cases) per year. The average andrologist performed 648 procedures (not cases) per year, while the average endocrinologist completed 2,673 procedures (not cases) per year.

CONCLUSION(S): This is the first report to describe time and staffing requirements as they relate to the laboratory personnel in an ART facility.