National Donor Day: What Fairfax Cryobank Looks for in a Donor
Find out how Fairfax Cryobank finds the best sperm donors for our clients
February 13th is known as National Donor Day, from donating blood or donating sperm to help others create a family, being a donor is a great honor to have. At Fairfax Cryobank we pride ourselves in the quality of our donors so we can provide our clients the best chance at having a healthy and happy baby. With only less than 1% of donor applicants being accepted by Fairfax Cryobank, here’s how we find the best donors for our clients:
Preliminary Evaluation:
All sperm donor applicants must be 18 to 39 years of age. Each applicant is required to complete an application form that includes a medical and genetic history of the applicant and family members, and a consent and specimen release document. Each application is reviewed during a personal interview with the applicant. Applicants who are not in a high-risk group for contracting AIDS and have no history of infectious transmissible diseases are required to submit a minimum of two sperm specimens for analysis.
Sperm Analysis:
Each sperm specimen submitted for analysis is evaluated for volume, pH, count, motility, progression, viability, abnormality and white blood cells. The specimens are frozen and subsequently thawed for post-thaw analysis. Any applicant whose sperm specimen does not meet the minimum post-thaw standard of 20 million total motile cells/ml is excluded from the screening process.
Infectious Disease Evaluation:
Two techniques are used to detect infectious diseases. Serological testing, the industry standard, looks for the presence of the body’s reaction (antibodies) to an infection. The other methodology, extensively utilized at Fairfax Cryobank is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing (also called NAT for Nucleic acid Testing), a far more sensitive method which uses molecular genetic techniques to identify for the presence of the DNA of the infecting agent. Click here for a current list of infectious screening tests performed on our donors.
Medical and Genetic Evaluation:
Each applicant has a complete physical examination and their medical and genetic history is evaluated by a clinical geneticist. It is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of genetic conditions and genetic inheritance to provide the best possible donor screening for inherited conditions. Fairfax Cryobank provides the expertise of board-certified clinical geneticists in the evaluation of the donor’s medical and family history as well as reviewing the test results of the extensive genetic screening performed on all sperm donor applicants. Any applicant with a family history that places him at higher than normal risk of transmitting a genetic condition is rejected. For the current list: Genetic Disease Testing.
Post-acceptance Testing:
Once an applicant is accepted into the donor program, each sperm specimen is evaluated individually both pre-freeze and post-thaw. Any specimen not meeting the minimum standard requirements is discarded. All specimens are quarantined six months and the donor retested for HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I & II, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C, syphilis (RPR), CMV, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Chlamydia trachomatis prior to release for use.
An extensive health questionnaire
Physical exam
Verification of all educational degrees by reviewing transcripts
Passing a criminal background check
Psychological evaluations
Repeated physical exams and infectious disease testing are ongoing while donors are active
Fairfax Cryobank holds our donors to the highest standard, and we are extremely thankful for each donor who gives up their time and energy to help our clients create their families. Join us in celebrating National Donor Day by finding your perfect donor today.
