VOC and air quality monitoring for IVF laboratories
Volatile organic compounds can harm embryos at very low concentrations, and no one in the lab can see or smell them. With the ViGIE HealthCube, you monitor VOCs, formaldehyde, particulate matter, CO₂, temperature and humidity continuously, with automated alerts and audit-ready records.
The risk you can’t see in the embryology lab
VOCs come from everyday sources such as cleaning products, disinfectants, plastics, paints, adhesives and even perfume. They can be embryotoxic at very low concentrations and cannot be detected without specific instrumentation.
Invisible
VOCs can’t be seen or smelled at the levels that matter for embryos, so problems go unnoticed.
Variable
Levels change with cleaning routines, deliveries, new materials and staff activity, often within minutes.
Detected too late
Without continuous monitoring, the first sign is often a drop in fertilisation or embryo development rates.
What to monitor in an IVF lab’s air
Annex B of the Spanish standard UNE 171340:2020 lists parameters such as VOCs, temperature, relative humidity, differential pressure and air change rate to control indoor air quality in assisted reproduction laboratories. The ViGIE HealthCube measures the key air quality indicators in a single device, and the ViGIE platform brings them together with the rest of your lab.
Volatile organic compounds
Total VOC levels (TVOC) measured continuously by the ViGIE HealthCube.
Formaldehyde
A specific VOC released by furniture, adhesives and some disinfectants.
Particulate matter
PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 particles suspended in the lab air.
Carbon dioxide
An indicator of room occupancy and of how well the lab is being ventilated.
Temperature and humidity
Stable room conditions for gametes, embryos and culture media.
Light intensity
Light levels in the lab, also measured by the ViGIE HealthCube.
From invisible risk to controlled environment
VOC data sits in the same ViGIE platform as your incubators, cryobanks and lab environment, on web and mobile app.
Measure continuously
The ViGIE HealthCube records TVOC, formaldehyde, particles, CO₂, temperature and humidity around the clock.
Get automated alerts
Your team is notified by SMS, email, voice call or the ViGIE app when configured thresholds are exceeded.
Find the source
Historical trends help link VOC peaks to cleaning, deliveries or new materials, so causes can be removed.
Prove control
Audit-ready records support UNE 171340 requirements, accreditation and quality audits.
A perfume, a VOC spike and lost gametes
In an accredited IVF clinic, a new employee entered the lab wearing perfume. VOC levels rose sharply and, without continuous monitoring, the spike went unnoticed. Several procedures failed and valuable gametes were lost.
After the incident, the clinic installed continuous VOC monitoring with ViGIE so that any change in air quality now triggers an alert before it reaches the culture.
Common VOC sources in an embryology lab
- Cleaning products and disinfectants
- Plastics and laboratory consumables
- Paints, adhesives and new furniture
- Perfumes and cosmetics worn by staff
- Outdoor air and nearby construction work
Frequently asked questions
What are VOCs and why do they matter in IVF labs?
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature from many everyday products. In IVF and embryology labs they are linked to embryotoxic effects even at very low concentrations, so they need to be measured and controlled continuously.
Which VOC sources are most common in an embryology lab?
Cleaning products and disinfectants, plastics and consumables, paints, adhesives and new furniture, perfumes and cosmetics worn by staff, and outdoor air or nearby construction work.
What does UNE 171340:2020 say about air quality in assisted reproduction labs?
Annex B of UNE 171340:2020 identifies VOCs, temperature, relative humidity, differential pressure and air change rate as parameters that can be monitored continuously to control indoor air quality in assisted reproduction laboratories.
How does ViGIE measure VOCs?
With the ViGIE HealthCube, an air quality sensor that measures TVOC, formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10), CO₂, temperature, humidity, light and background noise. Data goes to the ViGIE platform, which shows real-time levels and historical trends and sends automated alerts when configured thresholds are exceeded.
Can ViGIE monitor the rest of the IVF lab too?
Yes. The same platform monitors incubator temperature, CO₂, O₂ and humidity, fridges, cryobanks and liquid nitrogen tanks, so the whole lab is controlled from one place.
Does continuous monitoring help with audits and accreditation?
Yes. Every measurement and alarm is recorded with full traceability, and audit-ready reports support UNE 171340, quality audits and accreditation requirements.
Protect your embryos from what you can’t see
See how ViGIE monitors VOCs and air quality in your IVF lab, and how it fits your incubators, cryobanks and quality system.
