New
filters and a monitoring system helped the Carolina Conceptions
Fertility Clinic increase its success rate.
Since Carolina Conceptions Fertility Clinic opened its doors in August 2006, it has become the fastest growing infertility/in vitro fertilization (IVF) private practice in North Carolina. Located in Raleigh, the clinic specializes in the treatment of primary, secondary, male, and female infertility. The clinic provides on-site IVF, egg donation and recipiency, husband and donor intrauterine inseminations, and a gestational carrier/surrogacy program.
THE PROBLEM
The 11,000-sq-ft, three-story medical facility that houses Carolina Conceptions is located in a busy suburban office park. The entire facility, including the IVF lab, andrology (male infertility) lab, twelve exam rooms, offices, and lobby, are vulnerable to airborne molecular contamination (AMC) from unwanted gas-phase contaminants. Pollutants like smog, ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced by automobile exhaust, nearby industrial facilities, and many other outside sources that surround the clinic. Since IVF must be conducted under highly optimized conditions to permit maximum fertilization, the IAQ in the lab is critical for successful pregnancies.Airborne contaminants can affect IAQ when they are introduced through unfiltered outside air intakes of an HVAC system. In order to prevent AMC, the clinic needed an efficient way to filter its indoor air and monitor room conditions in the labs, exam rooms, and office.
FOCUS ON FILTERING
As part of a large-scale effort to improve the facility, Carolina Conceptions contacted their local Purafil sales representative, Engineered Air Systems It was decided that a a Double Wall Purafil Side Access (DWPSA) system was a good choice for the center and the system was installed by Comfort Engineers contractors as a replacement for an existing carbon filter. The flexible design of the DWPSA unit permits customization for specific installation requirements.The system at Carolina Conceptions was able to be retrofitted and installed upstream as part of the clinic’s five-ton HVAC system. The DWPSA system, containing Purafil® SP media, now works in conjunction with the facility’s air-handling system to control airborne particulates.
In addition to the DWPSA, an OnGuard® 2000 Atmospheric Corrosion Monitor was installed to track and control IAQ conditions and to make certain that the DWPSA continues to function as designed. Purafil has also provided the clinic with the value-added services of Media Life Analysis (MLA) as well as OnGuard/A-Prompt readings to further ensure the system’s optimum performance.
