The sperm mix up at fertility clinic was caused by a procedural error, said the Utrecht College Medical Centre. The procedural error covered between April 2015 and November 2016.
Half of the 26 women that have undergone the procedure are knowledgeable of the procedural error. "The UMC's board regrets that the couples involved had to receive this news," the center said in a statement.
During the procedure one treatment couple's sperm cell may have ended up with the other 26 other couples. Therefore, there is a chance that the egg cells have been fertilized by sperm other than that of the intended father.
The chances of this happening were small but the possibility cannot be excluded.
According to Real News, in 2012, a Singaporean mom sued a fertility clinic. The reason was a sperm mix up at fertility clinic. Her child had a totally different skin color and hair color from her Caucasian husband.
The technique at the center of the mistake injected a single sperm to the egg cell using a pipette. It is called Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and differs from in vitro fertilization.
Usually the pipette is changed every time a procedure is done. But the technician at that time used the same rubber top.
The technician noticed the traces of sperm in it and raised the alarm. Normally, rubber tops should have a filter. But during that time, it did not,a representative of the hospital said.
Nine out of the 26 couples involved had children. Four of the women is pregnant. The other 13 embryos were frozen.
According to BBC News, the UMC carries out up to 700 ICSI procedures every year.
Dutch fertility support group Freya reacted with shock to the news. She said that wanting a child is a very delicate thing. Dutch fertility support group Freya reacted with shock to the news. People needs 100% confidence in the method.
There should no more be a sperm mix up at fertility clinic. The technicians or staff will be more cautious about doing the procedure. Couple involved are now scheduled to meet the doctors in the coming days. They will be given the option to have a DNA test.
