Twig Fertility has opened its first British Columbia clinic in Vancouver, bringing RFID-based witnessing technology to the forefront of patient safety in reproductive medicine. The facility, which launched on March 30, 2026, is the company’s third location following two Toronto clinics.<\/p>\n
At the heart of the new clinic’s laboratory infrastructure is the RI Witnessing System, which uses RFID and barcode verification to ensure that eggs, sperm, and embryos are correctly matched to the right patients at every stage of treatment. This type of electronic witnessing system is critical in IVF laboratories, where sample mix-ups, though rare, carry devastating consequences for patients and families.<\/p>\n
RFID witnessing systems in fertility clinics typically operate at HF (13.56 MHz) frequencies, using passive RFID tags attached to dishes, tubes, and cryogenic storage vessels. Each sample container is tagged and scanned at every handoff point throughout the IVF workflow, from egg retrieval through fertilisation, culture, and embryo transfer. The system cross-references patient identity with the tagged samples in real time, generating an audible or visual alert if any mismatch is detected.<\/p>\n
This approach replaces traditional manual double-checking methods, which rely on two embryologists verbally confirming patient details at each step. While manual witnessing has been the standard for decades, human error remains a persistent risk during high-volume laboratory operations. Electronic witnessing through RFID provides a continuous, automated chain of custody that significantly reduces the likelihood of identification errors.<\/p>\n
The Vancouver clinic also features CHLOE AI Reports for embryo and egg quality evaluations, along with LifeAire hospital-grade air purification systems that maintain continuous environmental monitoring within the laboratory. These technologies complement the RFID witnessing system by creating a controlled, traceable environment for handling reproductive tissue.<\/p>\n
Twig Fertility was founded in 2020 by Tanner Kohara, Zach Shapiro, and Dr. Rhonda Zwingerman. The company now operates with over 130 team members across its three locations. The Vancouver clinic offers IVF, IUI, timed intercourse, fertility preservation, genetic counselling, early pregnancy care, and on-site pharmacy services. The facility has been designed as a trans-affirming, gender-neutral space.<\/p>\n
British Columbia represents a significant growth market for fertility services, with an estimated 1 in 6 Canadian couples facing fertility challenges. The adoption of RFID witnessing technology in new clinic builds signals a broader industry shift toward electronic traceability and automated safety systems in reproductive healthcare.<\/p>\n
As fertility clinics worldwide continue to scale operations and handle increasing patient volumes, RFID-based witnessing is becoming an essential layer of quality assurance. The technology offers laboratories a reliable, auditable record of every sample interaction, reinforcing patient trust in a field where precision is everything.<\/p>\n