Australia IVF Firm Admits Embryo Mix-Up After Woman Gives Birth

A major IVF provider in Australia, Monash IVF, has admitted to a serious error after a woman unknowingly gave birth to a child conceived with another couple’s embryo. The mix-up, which occurred at the company’s Brisbane clinic, was discovered in February and has been attributed to “human error”.

The incident came to light when the woman and her partner requested a transfer of their remaining embryos to another clinic. During the process, Monash IVF identified an extra embryo in storage, triggering an internal investigation that revealed the wrong embryo had been implanted.

“We are devastated by what has occurred and sincerely apologise to all those affected,” said Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap, adding that further audits have been conducted and the company believes the incident to be an isolated case.

The couple involved, who remain unnamed, are reportedly considering legal action. News of the blunder has significantly impacted Monash IVF’s stock, which dropped by 24 per cent—its steepest fall since 2019—amid broader market volatility.

Despite the fallout, the company told the Australian Securities Exchange that while the incident is distressing, it does not expect it to materially affect its financial performance. Monash IVF has engaged an external legal expert to lead an independent investigation and has reported the case to Queensland Health and the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee.

The Fertility Society of Australia responded by reaffirming the importance of rigorous embryo identification processes, stating that “patients place considerable trust in fertility services”.

Queensland Health, which only assumed regulatory responsibility for fertility clinics in September 2024, said the incident likely occurred under the previous self-regulated system. A spokesperson confirmed the department is now working with Monash IVF to strengthen safeguards and prevent future occurrences.