Establishment of comparative performance criteria for IVF centers: correlation of live birth rates in autologous and donor oocyte IVF cycles

BACKGROUND To assess whether an objective performance criterion for in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers can be established. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 2011 National ART Surveillance System data for 451 U.S. IVF centers, 137 of which were included in the analysis since they performed >20 fresh embryo transfers per age group and >20 fresh oocyte donor transfers. The analysis of autologous cycles was restricted to women under age 40. The main outcome measure was correlation between center-specific live birth rates (LBR) in autologous and donor oocyte cycles. RESULTS 55.6% donor and 46.7%, 39.1% and 28.7% (for ages <35, 35-37 and 38-40 years) autologous cycles resulted in live births per fresh embryo transfer. Donor LBR predicted autologous LBR (< 35 years, P < 0.001; 35 - 38 years, P < 0.001; 38 - 40 years, P = 0.015). Clinics with high prevalence of patients with diminished ovarian reserve had lower autologous LBR per age group (P = 0.015). Every 10% increase in donor LBR increased odds of autologous LBR above the age-adjusted national average by 68% (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.36 - 2.07; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Since center-specific donor and autologous IVF cycle outcomes correlate, and as donor cycles reflect fewer patient covariates, they represent a first comparable performance measure between centers, allowing for internal as well as external quality control.