November 16, 2009

expert reaction to news that the EU commission want all IVF patients to be screened for infections prior to each treatment

The following quotes accompany a letter sent by Dr Luca Gianaroli, Chairman of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), along with reactions from experts in the field to this announcement from the EU commission.

Dr Allan Pacey, Secretary of the British Fertility Society and Senior Lecturer in Andrology, University of Sheffield, said:

“The British Fertility Society (BFS) has some concerns about this interpretation of the EU directive and the impact it may have on infertility treatments within the UK and across Europe. Whilst there are a number of reasons to screen patients for some infectious agents, including HIV, it is important that the timing, frequency and screening strategy is evidence-based. A blanket screening policy applied uncritically is unhelpful and inappropriate. The BFS will be working with the HFEA and Colleagues in Europe on this issue to assess the evidence and provide appropriate representation to the EU Commission.”

Prof Peter Braude Head of the Department of Women’s Health, King’s College, London and Chairman of the ESHRE Committee of National Representatives, said:

“This new interpretation of the EU directive is of extreme concern to fertility practitioners, as it will have substantial implications for the costs of fertility treatment to individual patients and for the NHS.

“Whilst we already comply with the bizarre EU idea that sperm samples from couples who have been married or cohabiting for many years are treated as ‘partner donation’, and men have to have infection screens done at least annually, this interpretation would mean that both partners in the relationship would now have to be tested for HIV, hepatitis, HTLV, and syphilis every time they underwent an IVF or even an IUI procedure, which could be two or three times a year or even more often. The costs of this edict from Brussels would run into many millions of pounds annually, and is not based on any risk data, as we already know that such infection is not usually found at all in most units, and very infrequently in others (HIV < 2:1000 outside London). Repeat infection or new infection during or between treatments would be extremely rare if ever."