A fertility clinic involved with a mix-up in embryo samples earlier this year has been allowed to resume all of its licensed treatment services from Tuesday.

The Council on Human Reproductive Technology had ordered Heal Fertility to suspend 14 of its 17 treatment services and take remedial and improvement measures after the case came to light in July. The clinic was also found to have failed to report the error to the Department of Health within the mandatory 24-hour time frame.

The council held a special meeting on Monday and said it was convinced that Heal Facility had made relevant rectification, following a spot check last month.

It noted that the clinic refined its internal sample-handling procedures, strengthened staff training, and upgraded laboratory management and security systems by installing CCTV surveillance on the premises and biometric locks on all cryostorage tanks. It also enhanced sample identification and verification.

“The Council will continue to closely monitor Heal Fertility's performance to safeguard the continuous provision of safe and high-quality services to individuals seeking human reproductive technology services,” it said in a statement.

The Department of Health said it will lift an order an order that barred the clinic from taking new patients for assisted reproductive technology procedures from Tuesday.

It had earlier concluded an investigation into the clinic and ruled that it had been non-compliant with the Code of Practice concerning the timely reporting of "serious untoward events".


Edited by Edmond Fong