IVF Laboratory Safety During Power Outages: What Happens to Your Embryos and Gametes?

On 28th April, at around 12:30 pm, Spain experienced an exceptional event: a major power outage affected critical infrastructure, causing supply cuts in several provinces.

The national electricity grid confirmed a fault in the interconnection with France, triggering a chain of unexpected blackouts across Spain, including areas where internet access was lost.

This incident not only caused concern in homes, but also widespread anxiety among fertility clinic patients.

What happens to my embryos if the clinic loses power?
What about frozen gametes?
Are there backup systems in place to protect them?

At Vida Fertility, we want to provide clear, technical answers to reassure our patients — and anyone going through a similar process. We understand that the safety of your embryos and gametes is not only a technical matter, but an emotional, vital and deeply personal one.

beatriz lozano embriology vida fertility

How Does a Power Outage Affect an IVF Laboratory?

A fertility laboratory operates under conditions of extreme precision and control. Biological samples (eggs, sperm, embryos) require stable temperatures, specific humidity levels, and real-time digital traceability.
A sudden power failure could, in theory, compromise this… if systems weren’t specifically designed to prevent it.

Safety Systems at Vida Fertility

At Vida Fertility, we follow the highest international standards of quality and safety. These accreditations ensure that every stage — from management to sample traceability — is carried out with maximum precision and transparency.

Our laboratories maintain strictly controlled environmental conditions: dim lighting, stable temperature and humidity, positive pressure, and air filtration systems that protect embryo development.

Everything is designed to ensure the viability of eggs, sperm, and embryos, and to provide the highest possible safety for our patients.

At Vida Fertility, we implement hospital-grade safety protocols, managed by our embryology and risk management teams. While often invisible to patients, this part of the process is crucial to guaranteeing the integrity of every single sample.

Here are some of the safety measures and contingency plans we apply:

Immediate Power Backup

We have uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and autonomous backup generators in place. This means that if the mains supply fails, our equipment continues running without interruption. Incubators, nitrogen tanks, traceability systems — all continue to operate under the same parameters.

24/7 Smart Alarm Systems

All critical devices are connected to an alarm system that monitors their operation in real time. Any minor deviation (temperature, pressure, nitrogen level…) triggers an instant alert to the lab team and medical director, who respond immediately.

Access Control and Sample Traceability

Only authorised personnel can access the laboratory. Every sample is labelled and tracked using digital systems, eliminating any risk of human error. Traceability at Vida Fertility is audited and validated by international regulatory bodies.

Redundancy in Critical Systems

Every vital process has a backup system — from refrigeration to digital monitoring. This protects not only against power cuts, but also against any unforeseen technical failure.

TIME-LAPSE Incubators

These incubators feature time-lapse technology, allowing us to monitor embryo development without removing them from their controlled environment, reducing handling and associated risks. They also have built-in alarms to detect and immediately correct any fluctuation in temperature or gas levels, ensuring a stable, secure culture environment.

Nitrogen Storage Tanks

Gametes and embryos are preserved at -196 °C in tanks with automated control systems that constantly monitor nitrogen levels and temperature. These systems feature early warning alarms and auto-refill functions to ensure that critical thresholds are never crossed, thus preserving the viability of every sample.

Official Statement from Vida Fertility Following the Spanish National Power Outage

After the recent power outage, Vida Fertility issued an official statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency and safety:

“Our absolute priority is to guarantee the integrity, traceability and safety of all biological materials involved in our processes. We have a highly rigorous safety protocol and continuous power backup, ensuring that all our equipment functions correctly at all times.”

This letter, signed by Dr Beatriz Lozano, head of the laboratory, was sent to all our patients, assuring them that their treatments, hopes, and dreams are protected — even in the most extreme situations.

How to Know If Your Fertility Clinic Is Safe

If you’re undergoing treatment — or planning to — here are the key questions to ask:

Does the clinic have generators and electrical backup systems?
Are 24/7 alarms and on-call staff in place?
What traceability systems do they use for biological samples?
Who supervises the clinic’s safety protocols?
Have you received written information about how your embryos are protected?

At Vida Fertility, we understand that caring for your embryos is not just our job — it’s our duty, our commitment, and our privilege.

We invite you to learn more about our safety systems, to visit our facilities, to speak with our team, and to place your trust in a centre that takes your dream of becoming a mother very seriously.

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