Our Long-Term Storage

TMRW Life Sciences (TMRW) is a fertility technology company that safeguards frozen eggs, embryos, and sperm (specimens). TMRW created the world’s first and only automated platform for the safe management and storage of specimens. TMRW's next-generation technology delivers peace of mind by helping to reduce the risk of specimen errors, mix-ups, and loss.

Storage of "frozen" specimens at very low temperatures using cryopreservation.

Through our network, Pinnacle Fertility, we’ve forged a partnership with TMRW Life Sciences to utilize their long-term cryopreservation platform. To meet the growing needs of our patients and continue to store your specimen safely and securely, we are upgrading our long-term storage systems with the latest technology available from TMRW.

TMRW Life Sciences is fully and legally responsible for your frozen embryos/oocytes/sperm while in transit from and to the IVF Lab, and while in storage with them. They have ongoing commitment to meet our patients' expanding needs and to ensure the safe and secure storage of your specimens.

TMRW’s automated storage systems set a new standard of care for the secure identification, tracking, monitoring, and safekeeping of specimens.

TMRW created the world’s first and only integrated and automated platform for the safe storage and management of frozen eggs, embryos, and sperm. TMRW’s platform provides:

• Digital identification using barcodes and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology
• Digital logs and tracking systems with triple redundancy and an unbreakable chain of custody within the platform
• Storage tanks that are automatically checked and refilled with liquid nitrogen 
• 24/7 monitoring using real-time data analytics and systems that notify the TMRW support team of any changes

It is staffed by TMRW cryostorage experts and embryologists with extensive training in handling frozen specimens.

Yes, the process of transporting frozen specimens between our clinical site and storage facilities is a standard practice in the fertility industry. All handling and transport are carried out by trained personnel who adhere to the highest industry standards. 

It is in Boulder, Colorado.

Signed into law on April 4th, 2022, The Reproductive Health Equity Act (HB22-1279) states

“Every individual has a fundamental right to use or refuse contraception; every pregnant individual has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion; and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of the state.”

In Colorado, any and all decisions about your reproductive care, including what happens to your eggs and/or embryos, remain yours to make.

Advanced Fertility Care will work closely with TMRW to prepare and transfer your cryopreserved eggs, embryos, and/or sperm. At AFC, your specimens, with their original labels, will be placed into a new TMRW container (called a CryoBeacon) with digital identification (RFID) assigned only to you. These containers will be packaged into liquid nitrogen-cooled transport tanks and transferred to the long-term Biorepository (BioR) powered by TMRW in Boulder, Colorado. Upon arrival, the CryoBeacons will have their RFID tags scanned and then will be placed into the TMRW storage system.

Advanced Fertility Care covers the transportation costs for your specimens to and from the long-term Biorepository (BioR).

No, your current storage fee includes the cost of storage in our designated long-term Biorepository (BioR).

‍If you are choosing to keep your specimen at the clinic the new storage fee will be applied at your next bill.

No, all specimens are transferred in cryogenic tanks specifically designed to keep them frozen in transit.  TMRW uses temperature monitoring to ensure that samples remain at safe cryogenic temperatures throughout the transfer process. 

No, the original label placed on your specimens will remain. An embryologist at your clinic will identify each specimen as they are assigned to your unique TMRW container (CryoBeacon). Each CryoBeacon has a unique digital ID specific to you and will be used to track your specimens at all times.

Once the CryoBeacon with your specimen(s) (and your unique digital ID) is received by the team, it is scanned and checked into the TMRW system for storage.

This activity is digitally recorded and attached to each specimen’s record - ensuring visibility, traceability, and accountability for your specimens. Your clinic can view all the patient’s specimens through an electronic medical record system.

Your specimens are in a CryoBeacon that is unique to you and no other patient's specimens will be in your container(s). These containers are stored in a large storage tank that stores multiple CryoBeacons that hold other patients’ specimens, which is standard industry practice.

Both AFC’s electronic medical record system and TMRW’s software will reflect the real-time location of the inventory of all cryopreserved specimens stored at the offsite B. The storage location will also be reflected on any other inventory system of record maintained by our laboratory staff.

Only authorized TMRW personnel are allowed inside the secured facilities to maintain specimen safety. 

Your clinic will electronically request that the specimens be transported back to the clinic in time for your procedure. TMRW’s team  will coordinate everything with your clinic on your behalf. There is no charge for shipping your specimens back.

If you are planning on restarting treatment within 3 months from receiving notice of the transition, please notify your Navigator. We have an efficient process for retrieving samples from the BioR and will ensure to have them available for your treatment.

Your clinic will work with TMRW to prepare the necessary documentation for your receiving clinic and will work with the transport company of your choice to facilitate the transport.

All patients who have had specimens in storage for more than one year or who are not in an active cycle at our clinic will have their specimens safely stored at our long-term cryostorage provider. Patients who choose to have us maintain storage of their specimens at our onsite laboratory will have an increased cost for on-site long-term storage. The new cost for on-site storage with AFC is $1140 per year. This will be reflected on your next renewal date and transitioned to auto-billing.

If patients don't wish to have their specimens moved or wish to move them elsewhere, they may ship them to another facility upon request.

At the clinic, specimens, with their original labels, will be placed into new TMRW containers with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. These containers will be safely transferred to  the long-term Biorepository (BioR) using vapor-cooled tanks, tracked every step of the way. Upon receipt at the Biorepository (BioR), they will be placed into TMRW’s automated storage system. Our electronic medical record system will reflect the location and status of the specimen inventory in your medical record.

Patients can reach out to our Long-Term Storage Transition Team via storage@azfertility.com or (480) 874-2229, press 7.

If patients wish to opt-out of sending their specimen(s) to the BioR, they need to submit notice no later than 30 days after receiving the initial notice.

‍

Find more information about our partner, TMRW Life Sciences (TMRW)  in these resources:

• TMRW for Patients
• TMRW Life Sciences