Our Long-Term Storage

TMRW is a fertility technology company modernizing the management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos. TMRW created the world’s first automated platform for the safe storage and management of frozen eggs and embryos, delivering peace of mind to clinics, doctors, embryologists and patients with cutting-edge technology that helps reduce the risk of specimen mix-up and loss.

A biorepository is a facility that catalogs, stores and maintains biological specimens – in this case, your eggs and embryos. The purpose of a biorepository is to store and cryogenically maintain (at extremely low temperatures) these specimens, often on a long-term basis.

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’s automated storage systems set a new standard of care for the secure identification, tracking, monitoring, and safekeeping of specimens. TMRW utilizes digital monitoring with thousands of system checks every day coupled with a trained team overseeing the data to identify potential issues before they arise.

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

• Specimen Safety & Accuracy - TMRW reduces potential points of failure by 94% compared with manual storage systems - helping to reduce the risk of specimen error, damage, mix-up, and loss.
• Digital Identification & Tracking - Unique labels with RFID tags that track the location and history of your frozen eggs and embryos.
• 24/7 Redundant Monitoring - Digital monitoring with thousands of system checks every day coupled with a trained team overseeing the data to identify potential issues before they arise.
• Seamless Clinic Coordination - Our care team is there every step of the way to help facilitate on-demand shipping to and from your fertility clinic.

The TMRW Biorepository is only staffed by embryology and fertility experts. The TMRW team has a combined 180+ years of embryology, andrology and/or lab experience and you can feel confident knowing that your specimens are being handled by an experienced team of embryologists with extensive training in handling cryopreserved fertility specimens.

Yes, the process of shipping frozen specimens is commonplace in the fertility industry, and safe. Your specimens will remain frozen throughout the entire transfer process. Additionally, TMRW requires the use of active, continuous temperature and GPS telemetry to ensure a seamless temperature trace during shipment. All specimen handling at the TMRW Biorepository is carried out by experienced embryologists who adhere to the highest industry standards with strict quality control policies.

The storage facility is located in 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.

Institute for Human Reproduction will collaborate closely with TMRW for the meticulous preparation and transfer of your cryopreserved eggs, embryos, and/or sperm. At IHR, we ensure that your specimens, retaining their original labels, are securely placed into a specially designed TMRW container known as a CryoBeacon, each assigned a unique digital identification (RFID) exclusive to you. These CryoBeacons are then carefully packed into liquid nitrogen-cooled transport tanks for their journey to the advanced long-term cryostorage facility operated by TMRW in Boulder, Colorado. Upon reaching their destination, each CryoBeacon will undergo RFID tag scanning before being integrated into the TMRW storage system.

IHR covers the expenses associated with transporting your specimens to and from the long-term storage facility.

No, the existing storage fee you are paying already covers the cost of storage at our designated long-term storage facility.

No, during transfer, all specimens are securely transported in specially designed cryogenic tanks that maintain their frozen state. TMRW employs rigorous temperature monitoring techniques to guarantee that the samples consistently remain at the requisite cryogenic temperatures for their entire journey.

No, the original label placed on your specimens will remain.

Once your specimen(s) are received by the TMRW team, they are 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 specimens will be stored in tanks with other patients but kept in separate CryoBeacon(s) (cryogenic containers) within the tank.

We maintain an active inventory of all cryopreserved specimens stored at TMRW’s offsite cryostorage facility. The storage location will also be reflected on any other inventory system of record maintained by our laboratory staff.

Access to the secure facilities is exclusively permitted to authorized TMRW personnel, ensuring the utmost safety of the specimens.

Our team will work with TMRW to ensure the safe return of your samples to our lab. Once we receive them, we will reach out to you directly to assist with any necessary transportation arrangements. Please note that while there is no charge for the return of samples to our lab, fees will apply for shipments from our lab to other facilities.

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. This will be reflected on your next renewal date.

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.

In the clinic, your specimens, retaining their original labels, will be securely placed into fresh TMRW containers, each equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. These containers will then be carefully moved to the long-term cryostorage facility using vapor-cooled tanks, with tracking at every stage of the journey. Once they arrive at the cryostorage location, they will be integrated into TMRW’s automated storage system. The location and status of your specimen inventory will be updated and reflected in your electronic medical record for your reference.

Patients can reach out to our Long-Term Storage Transition Team via their secure patient portal or by emailing storage@ihrfertility.com.

If patients wish to opt-out of sending their specimen(s) to the Biorepository, 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