Monash IVF has received an independent review into unrelated cases of embryo mix-ups in Brisbane and Melbourne but the contents will remain secret.

In an announcement to the ASX today, the fertility giant said the review, undertaken by barrister Fiona McLeod, would not be released publicly to protect the privacy of affected patients.

“Both cases involved non-standard IVF treatments and circumstances that would not arise in the vast majority of IVF procedures,” Monash IVF said in the ASX announcement.

The review concluded the Brisbane incident was the result of human error.

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Monash IVF realised the mistake in February, after the birth parents asked to transfer their remaining frozen embryos to another provider.

It found the Melbourne incident resulted from a range of factors, including human error at multiple stages and IT system limitations “in the very limited circumstances of an embryo transfer to a partner”.

“Those limitations ultimately made subsequent processes more vulnerable to human error,” the ASX announcement said.

In April, revelations emerged that one of Monash IVF’s Brisbane patients had been mistakenly implanted with another woman’s embryo in 2023 and gave birth to a baby who had no genetic links to her later that year.

Then, in June, the fertility company apologised for a second time in as many months after a patient received her own embryo “contrary to the treatment plan which designated the transfer of an embryo of the patient’s partner”.

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Monash IVF told the ASX it had already implemented many of Ms McLeod’s recommendations.

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With more than 100,000 treatment cycles taking place yearly in Australia’s growing IVF industry, those with first-hand experience say it’s time for changes to increase transparency and simplify regulations.

“Following its own internal review, additional safeguards and protocols have already been implemented and the company is committed to implementing the remainder of the recommendations,” the company said.

“These additional safeguards and protocols go beyond the recommendations contained in the independent review.

“The cost involved in implementing the recommendations and additional safeguards and protocols are not anticipated to have a material impact on financial performance.”

Monash IVF chief executive officer Michael Knaap resigned following revelations of the Melbourne embryo mix-up in June.

Chief financial officer and company secretary Malik Jainudeen was appointed as acting CEO.

“To the affected patients and everyone who entrusts Monash IVF with their dreams of building a family, we are deeply sorry for the distress these incidents have caused,” he said today.

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