Specimen Information

Donor Sperm Vial Type

What type of sperm donor vial type should I order?

Watch this YouTube video to learn which type of donor sperm vial preparation type is right for you and your insemination procedure.

Total Motile Cell Quality Standards/vial

Note that TMC counts will vary by about 10%-30%, depending on the lab personnel and counting method. By way of example, if Fairfax Cryobank’s laboratory determined a specimen contained ten million TMC, we would expect the client’s clinic to find between seven million and thirteen million TMC.

Fairfax Cryobank has frozen donor sperm specimens specifically prepared for three types of procedures: direct intrauterine insemination (IUI and IUI ART are washed), intracervical insemination (ICI and ICI ART are unwashed) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) following a post-thaw wash of all specimen types (IVF, ICI, ICI ART, IUI, and IUI ART). Our specimens have been frozen after the addition of a freeze medium containing a cryoprotectant that will protect the cells during the freezing and thawing process.

Fairfax Cryobank specimens are color-coded to indicate the preparation type. IUI/ IUI ART specimens are color-coded with an ORANGE cap, ICI/ICI ART specimens are color-coded with a RED cap, and IVF doses are color-coded with a WHITE cap.

IUI and IUI ART ready frozen donor sperm has been prepared by washing the fresh ejaculate to remove the seminal plasma prior to freezing.

ICI, ICI ART, and IVF specimens contain seminal plasma and require additional processing if used in procedures other than intracervical insemination.

IVF versus ART Vials:

IVF vials: The word IVF implies that the vial is designed for IVF (in vitro fertilization), and therefore, at times is confused that it could only be used for that purpose, when in fact it can be used in any insemination procedure. Fairfax Cryobank produced IVF vials in response to feedback from clients who were looking for an economical alternative to purchasing our standard IUI and ICI vials, which contain 10 million total motile cells (TMC) per vial, and only needed donor sperm as a back-up in an IVF procedure with or without Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

The number of sperm cells needed in an IVF procedure with/without ICSI is considerably less than what is typically used for an ICI or IUI procedure. Although the IVF vial can be used in ICI and IUI procedures, typically 2 vials are purchased to get a “full” complement of total motile cells, as the IVF vials contain only 5 million TMC per vial.

ART vials: ART means Assisted Reproductive Technology. All procedures that involve the use of insemination techniques fall under the ART designation and hence the NEW name.

There are two advantages to the NEW ART prep. First, Fairfax Cryobank ART vials come in two preparation types: ICI ART (unwashed) and IUI ART (pre-washed). Both the IUI ART, and ICI ART, can be used for all insemination types; however, post-thaw prep may be required. IVF procedures may require additional post-thaw preparation of specimens as well. Second, our ART vial contains more total motile cells than our IVF prep starting at a minimum of 6 million TMC and going up to > 10 million TMC per vial.

ART vial use: If used in an IUI procedure, the IUI ART does not require further preparation after being thawed. Both ICI ART and IUI ART vials can be used in IVF with/without ICSI, ICI, and IUI procedures but may require post-thaw processing. Going forward, we anticipate that the ART vial will be more popular than the IVF vial.

Processing, Packaging, and Freezing:

All donor sperm specimens are produced onsite at the Fairfax Cryobank facility and tracked with a 3-part tracking label to verify the donor of origin. All specimens are processed using methods to provide protection from contamination of the specimen during processing.

Before freezing, a freezing media containing a cryoprotectant buffer is added to the specimens to protect the sperm cells and membranes during the freezing, storage, and thawing process. Fairfax Cryobank completes a bioassay test of each lot of freeze media to determine its suitability before use.

After processing, and addition of the freeze media, 0.5 ml aliquots of the specimen are packaged in individual vials for ICI and IUI-ready specimens; IVF specimens are processed with volumes of 0.5-1.0 ml aliquots. All vials are labeled with the unique donor number, freeze date, vial #, and a code for the facility of origin.

After freezing, the vials are stored at -196 degrees Centigrade in liquid nitrogen tanks for 6 months quarantine. The donor is subsequently retested for infectious disease before the specimens are released for use. The liquid nitrogen tanks are specifically designed with alarm systems for safety and security of the specimens.

More is Not Always Better

We all often fall into the societal pressure to accept that more or bigger is better, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes there is an optimal amount, as is the case of the number of sperm required to achieve pregnancy through insemination.

At Fairfax Cryobank we have a specimen quality standard that all vials (ICI and IUI) will have a minimum of 10 million Total motile cells (TMC) per vial. We chose to put 10 million TMC per vial after careful consideration of data from laboratories at the Genetics & IVF Institute, our parent company founded in 1983, and extensive literature review.

Several studies demonstrate that when it comes to pregnancy rates, more is not always better. There is an observed plateau in pregnancy rates once the concentration of cells reaches 10 million. (Van Voorhis et al, 2001) & (Cressman et al, 1996).

We have carefully calculated what we believe to the optimal concentration of cells in the specimen for the ultimate goal of bringing home a healthy happy bundle of joy.

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