Mix-up destroys last embryo

London: A health trust has apologised after a couple undergoing fertility treatment had their last embryo accidentally implanted in another woman.

The couple had been trying for a second child with their only remaining embryo when the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Wales clinic in Cardiff discovered the error.

The woman wrongly implanted chose to have a termination after finding out what had happened. The Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust apologised for the blunder and paid the couple an undisclosed sum.

The solicitor representing the first couple said on Sunday it was "an accident waiting to happen". Guy Forster said there had been two previous near misses.

"A report by HFEA [Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority] investigators shows that the error occurred primarily due to failures by laboratory and theatre staff&

"However, it is clear that there were a number of system failings, in that the clinic had failed to implement the procedures set out in the HFEA's Code of Conduct, workloads were above safe levels and there were staff shortages."

The couple attended the clinic in 2007 for their final embryo to be transplanted. While they were waiting, they were told a trainee embryologist had mixed up their embryo after taking it from the wrong shelf of the incubator.