The email below was received by a colleague who sits on the IOP physics
group. She has passed it to me and I wondered if anybody on this list
could help?
Thanks
Angela Cotton
Head of Non-Ionising Radiation Support
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton
SO16 6YD
tel 023 8079 8616
fax 023 8079 4117
email: [log in to unmask]
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) principal
tasks
are to licence and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro
fertilisation, donor insemination and human embryo research. We also
regulate the storage of gametes (sperm and eggs) and embryos. We
licence
around 110 treatment and storage centres and a number of these centres
have started to explore the use of technologies such as bar coding and
radio frequency identification to help with tracking and identifying
gametes and embryos in the laboratory and to aid witnessing
procedures.
Our Advisory Group on Safety and New Technologies (SANT) is currently
looking into the use of these technologies in the IVF laboratory.
SANT are currently in the process of assessing the safety ofbar code
scanners which use laser light. The main issue under consideration is
the potential for laser light to cause damage to gametes and embryos,
as
these scanners would be used to read bar codes attached to dishes and
straws containing gametes and embryos.
In order to fully understand the technology we are hoping to consult a
medical physicist, with knowledge in the area of lasers and damage to
human material, for some advice.
I would be very greatful if you could recommend someone within the
Medical Physics Group.
Many thanks in advance,
Hannah Darby
Policy Officer
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
21 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3HF
Tel 0207 291 8200
Fax 0207 291 8201
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