Secure and Efficient IVF Workflows with the RI Witness™ System
An Exclusive Interview With American Hospital, Istanbul
In the high-stakes environment of assisted reproductive technology (ART), precision and accountability are paramount. The RI Witness™ system is increasingly becoming the gold standard for electronic witnessing in IVF laboratories across six continents.
At American Hospital in Istanbul, one of the earliest adopters of RI Witness in Türkiye, the system has been transforming workflows and significantly helping to improve staff well-being for nearly 15 years.
Easing the Burden on Lab Teams
Basak Balaban,* Director, In-vitro Fertilization Laboratory, American Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
“The RI Witness system has significantly reduced the psychological pressure on our staff.”
Embryologists and IVF professionals face intense pressure due to the critical nature of their work. Manual double witnessing, while essential, can be disruptive, stressful, and time-consuming, especially in high-volume labs.1
These challenges are echoed in broader research, which highlights a high prevalence of burnout among embryologists, citing physical and psychological symptoms exacerbated by manual witnessing protocols.2,3
Basak explains “Previously, we had to double- or even triple-check every step manually. Now, everything is automatically recorded and traceable through the RI Witness system, which gives our team a greater sense of security.”
Patient Trust and Confidence
Beyond improving staff experience, RI Witness also enhances patient confidence.4,5
Basak emphasizes, “The presence of the RI Witness system is a major source of trust for patients. It helps eliminate the risk of sample mix-ups and brings greater transparency and security to the entire IVF journey.”
Seamless Training and Implementation
Implementing RI Witness is supported by a global team of CooperSurgical experts who tailor the rollout to each clinic’s needs.
Basak Balaban highlights, “The RI Witness system is user-friendly, integrates into existing workflows, and significantly enhances safety and efficiency.”
Data-Driven Insights and Quality Control
RI Witness not only helps to safeguard sample integrity but also provides robust data tracking and reporting. Through the tracking of each procedural step, KPIs can be monitored, and bottlenecks can be identified.
RI Witness can also help to determine staff training requirements, equipment needs, indicate need for SOP refinements, and laboratory reconfiguration and upgrades.6
Balaban notes that these features give her IVF center a “solid foundation for continuous improvement and quality enhancement.”
A Trusted Recommendation
Basak strongly endorses RI Witness for other IVF centers: “I would confidently recommend the RI Witness system to any center. I think it should become mandatory in all clinics across Türkiye.”
As ART continues to evolve, RI Witness is proving to be an essential tool for maintaining high standards of care while helping safeguard the emotional and professional well-being of the teams who make parenthood possible.
Discover the RI Witness difference
Explore how RI Witness improves accuracy and reduces the risk of manual error including gamete mismatch.7
*Basak Balaban has not received compensation for this testimonial. The views expressed are based on her personal experience with the RI Witness system and do not imply endorsement by any regulatory authority.
References
- Holmes, R., et al. (2021) Comparison of electronic versus manual witnessing of procedures within the in vitro fertilization laboratory: impact on timing and efficiency. F S Rep. 2021;2(2):181-188.
- Murphy, A., et al. (2022). Embryologist burnout: physical and psychological symptoms and occupational challenges currently reported by US embryologists. Fertility and Sterility, 118(4), p.e66.
- López-Lería B., et al. (2014). Embryologists’ health: a nationwide online questionnaire. J Assist Reprod Genet. 31, 1587–1597.
- Di Berardino, T., et al. (2022). Impact of the use of RI Witness Electronic Witnessing System on the IVF Laboratory Staff and Patient Experience in UK and Ireland. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 45, p.e39.
- Forte et al. , 2016. Electronic witness system in IVF—patients perspective. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 33(9), pp.1215-1222
- CooperSurgical. How the RI Witness IQTM solution can help improve standards and clinical outflow across a clinic group. Accessible via: https://fertility.coopersurgical.com/fertility-care/how-the-ri-witness-iq- solution-can-help-improve-standards-and-clinical-outflow-across-a-clinic-group (accessed August 2025). WIT_DIG_0010_GL_US.
- Sterckx, J. et al. (2023). Electronic witnessing in the medically assisted reproduction laboratory: insights and considerations after 10 years of use. Human Reproduction, 38(8), pp.1529-1537.
