Clinical evaluation of donors before approval
- One complete semen analysis with morphology; three to five sperm counts and post-thaw evaluations.
- Screening for infectious disease risks including:
- HIV risk assessment interview, based on sexual activity and drug-use history.
- FDA identified infectious disease risks for HIV, Hepatitis B, and other relevant communicable diseases
- Assess for exposure to Zika Virus, COVID, and other emerging infections as determined by our medical advisors, regulatory bodies, and professional organizations
- Complete physical examination.
- Blood and urine testing for infectious diseases: HIV-1/2/O, HTLV-1/2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, CMV (cytomegalovirus), and West Nile Virus.
- Blood and urine testing for blood typing and general health indicators: ABO/Rh typing, CBC (complete blood count), liver panel, chemistry panel, and urinalysis.
- A three-generation medical, mental health, and genetic history, self-reported during personal interviews (the medical history consists of the donor, their siblings, parents, and grandparents. Four generations are included if the donor has their own children). Read more about the importance of family health history.
- All donors receive genetic screening for Cystic Fibrosis carrier trait and for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carrier status. All donors are tested by Hemoglobin Electrophoresis to screen for Sickle-cell and Thalassemia carrier status and identify other hemoglobin-related blood disorders. Donors of Jewish, French-Canadian, or Cajun descent also receive genetic screening for Tay Sachs carrier trait. Starting in June 2021, new donors are tested using an expanded carrier screening panel. The specifics of each donor’s genetic testing is available for free through links on our donor catalog. Read more about our genetic screening.
- All program donors meet with a licensed mental health professional to discuss the implications of being a donor and participating in our Identity-Release® Program. This includes research-based information regarding what most often motivates donor-conceived people to seek their donor’s identity, the Identity-Release® Program timeline, limitations of confidentiality in the era of social media and direct-to-consumer DNA testing, and recommendations for discussing their Identity-Release® Program participation with current/future partners and kids of their own. Donors are encouraged to consider the impact of sperm donation on their own lives and assessed for their understanding of the parameters of the Identity-Release® Program. (Formal Implications Counseling with a licensed mental health professional began in 2019 as part of an ongoing expansion to our donor education program on these issues.)
- Medical Director review of all screening and testing documents and all health related information reported by donor.
Clinical evaluation of donors after approval
- A sperm count and post-thaw evaluation is performed on every sample to ensure that it meets our post-thaw minimum of 20 million motile sperm per cc.
- Quarterly testing for HIV-1/2/O, HTLV-1/2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, CMV (cytomegalovirus), and West Nile Virus.
- Semi-annual update of medical history and genetic history
- Semi-annual screening for infectious disease risks for HIV, Hepatitis B, other FDA identified relevant communicable diseases, and emerging infections.
- Semi-annual physical exam, including urinalysis, CBC, liver panel, and chemistry panel.
- Six months after the donor has provided a final semen sample, we perform exit testing for HIV-1/2/O, HTLV-1/2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, CMV, and West Nile Virus.
