RFID: Is it Safe?

RFID functionality is based around a low power radio signal, that operates at a fraction of the modern technology you are using right now. We’ve reviewed the research, from our provider, and resulting data from independent studies. Research shows that RI Witness is a completely safe way of tracking embryo’s and sperm, reliably ensuring the identity of your genetic materials in the IVF chain.

Safety of RFID and RI Witness

Our technology is not required in the United States IVF, it is part of the standard operating procedure in parts of Europe, and has been proven safe in 10+ years of use abroad. Regardless, anytime we deploy new technology, safety is always our primary concern.

Blue Sky and RI Witness have studied the data, we are confident in that our new process does no harm to embryos or humans.

RFID, Radio Waves and IVF Safety

Every day, we are surrounded by emissions from modern technology. Right now as you read this, you are swimming in radio waves. The cellphone in your pocket, the laptop you are sitting in front of, your WiFi, etc. The effects that radiating radio frequencies can have on cells are dependent on the frequency and power density to which they are exposed.

RI Witness RFID tags do not emit or receive radio waves when they are not on a reader or in the incubator. The tags are passive, with no internal energy source, so they are only activated when in a 1-5cm range of an RI Witness reader. Embryos and gametes are only exposed to the radio frequency fields for short time periods.

The Test

Using RFID in a IVF setting to ensure proper tracking, is common in Europe, and comprehensive studies have proved the safety use of RFID embryos. Recently, RIWitness had the University of Belgium research the safety of their product.

For safety testing purposes, researchers exaggerated and amplified the power output on all equipment used in the RI Witness system.

Output power of the reader, was increased by 1000%
Increased the time that the embryos were in the radio frequency field, by 7000%
All said, the experiment total exposure was 700x what would be expected in an IVF lab

“The study showed no change to the embryo, with normal development and live birth rate of blastocysts compared to the control group.”

The Results

The resulting data showed no change to the embryo, with normal development and live birth rate of blastocysts when compared to the control group.

In Addition

An independent review spanning more than 10,000 live births abroad, both before and after the introduction of RI Witness, showed no changes to results in both live births and malformations over the two periods.

RI Witness

> Overview

> How RI Witness works

> Safety

** PLEASE NOTE ** Blue Sky Fertility is not a sperm bank, and does not provide compensation for donated sperm.

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