Donor Screening
Our donor screening process includes personal questions about education level, sexual history, at least three generations of family health information and a discussion of reasons for wanting to be a semen donor. Donor profiles are available for your review.
Candidates are assessed for general health, genetics and infectious disease. As a result of our high standards and requirements, less than 5% of the donor applicants are accepted into our program.
Donor specimens are held in quarantine for a period of six months until all tests have been repeated. If repeated test results are negative, the donor specimens will be released from quarantine and made available for purchase.
The following tests are done during the initial screening and then repeated every six months:
- Chlamydia NAT
- Gonorrhea NAT
- CMV antibody (if reactive, additional tests are performed to exclude an active infection)
- Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen
- Hepatitis B Virus core antibody
- Hepatitis C Virus antibody
- Hepatitis C Virus NAT
- HTLV I/II antibody
- HIV1/HIV2 antibody
- HIV 1 NAT
- Syphilis
- Beta Strep
- Mycoplasma
- Ureaplasma
- Urinanalysis
(NAT: Nucleic Acid Test)
Donor Genetic Screening
CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive condition that is more common among Caucasian individuals. The carrier rate among healthy Northern European or Ashkenazi Jewish individuals is approximately 1 in 25. Individuals affected with CF have a chronic illness that typically includes severe lung disease and gastrointestinal problems that result in a shortened lifespan. All donors, regardless of ethnicity, are screened to see if they are carriers for CF.
Other genetic tests may need to be completed based on ancestry
KARYOTYPING (Jewish & requested donors)
B-THALASSEMIA (Asian & Mediterranean donors)
HEMOGLOBIN ELECTROPHORESIS (Asian & Mediterranean donors)
TAY SACHS SCREEN (Jewish & French/Canadian donors)
SICKLE CELL DISEASE (African American & African donors)
ASHKENAZIC DISEASE SCREEN-INCLUDES CYSTIC FIBROSIS, CANAVAN, AND TAY-SACHS (Jewish donors)
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