Donor Screening

Screening for Canadian Donors

Understand the screening process a donor goes through before being accepted into the donation program

Screening process for donors

By choosing Origin, you elect to gain access to the most comprehensive list of the highest quality and safest semen donor options in Canada. Currently Origin offers samples from Candian donor recruited locally as well as imported donor specimens from the United States recruited by Fairfax/CLI Cryobank and NW Cryobank. You will find it comforting to know that all donor semen specimens offered by Origin regardless of their source are in full compliance with the Health Canada/Food and Drugs Act - Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations, 1996, 2000; the Health Canada Directive: Technical Requirements for Therapeutic Donor Insemination, July 2000, and the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Act, 2004.  Here is a breakdown of the screening process for each source of donor semen:

Semen donation is an altuistic deed

The altruistic deed of becoming a semen donor is a truly remarkable action in the desire to help others in need.  As a licensed processing facility, Origin works with donors to help them understand the obligation and importance in providing detailed information that will be used in application and assessment process.  In addition, much of the information will be shared with future recipients to assist them in the selection process.

Let’s review the in depth screening process

Below is the process for screening donors:

The initial application asks a series of questions securing information about the donor’s medical history, social habits, and lifestyle choices.  Providing none of the exclusion criteria is met in this application, select individuals are invited in for an on-site interview.

During this on site meeting, the donor will provide photo-ID to correctly verify their identity.  They will then complete an extensive medical history & questionnaire form and will be interviewed by the Director of the Sperm Bank.  All of the collected information will be stored in the donor file for review by the Medical Director. 

 

During this time, the donor will also provide a sample for semen analysis.  The donor will consent to ReproMed obtaining copies of all their medical records from their treating physicians.

Once the medical records are obtained and reviewed, the donor will be invited back to provide a second semen analysis.  He will also undergo a series of serological, virological, genetic, and microbiological testing.

An additional semen analysis will be completed.  At this time, the Medical Director will conduct further review of the medical records and conduct a physical examination on the donor.

Every effort is made to verify medical history information provided by the prospective donors by actively seeking a copy of their medical records. Screening for genetic conditions is also done as per the best practice policies. Accurate depiction of the donors’ physical traits is always available. Other elements of the donor profile vary and may be subjective in nature and more difficult to confirm. Once all the screening results are collected, the medical records obtained, and the specimen assessments are complete, the Medical Director will review all aspects of the donor’s file.  After everything is scrutinized, and it is deemed the specimens are of the highest quality for treatment use, the donor will be accepted into the program. 

 

It is important to note that at any time during the 6 months period of evaluation, the candidate maybe rejected.  It is a long process in the path to become a semen donor and one that takes time and commitment.  For this reason, only 1% of those men who initially apply make it into the program. 

 

When a donor is approved into the program, there is a continued process to assess and review a donor’s medical health.  All specimens produced are held in quarantine for a minimum of six months.  After the 6 months period the donor will complete another set of infectious screening before the specimens can be authorized for release for recipient use.  All donors sign agreements indicating they will update ReproMed of any changes in their medical history and changes to their address even after they leave the program. 

Listed below are the laboratory tests currently used for Canadian donors:

image-origin-donor-screening-table

 

Advancements in genetic testing allow for a much broader testing of genetic mutations to help understand the potential risk of transmission of a genetically inherited disorder.  This testing is done through Expanded Carrier Screening (ECS) to test for such conditions as Cystic Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs, Thalassemia, and hundreds of other conditions.  Please visit the website page on Expanded Carrier Screening to learn more.

 

Note: Donors accepted prior to the use of ECS in genetic testing, have undergone genetic testing for Cystic Fibrosis carrier status, and have a low risk of transmission.  Donors belonging to a high-risk population for Tay Sachs, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Thalassemia were tested for these disorders.  Please contact Origin Sperm Bank to confirm the genetic testing performed on a specific donor.

Update Regarding Zika Virus and Donated Semen Samples (March 1st, 2016)

Origin would like to assure its patients that we are closely monitoring reports regarding the outbreak of the Zika virus in Central and South America and its possible impact on semen donations. Effective January 30, 2016, Origin has implemented a strict policy to screen semen donors for travel to potentially infected areas. In keeping with Health Canada & FDA recommentations, anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, the continental United States and Europe will now be temporarily ineligible to donate for six months. The development of relevant signs or symptoms during that period will prompt further deferral until the condition is properly investigated.

 

For more information regarding the Zika Virus infection please refer to:  

 

Health Canada Notice: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/phn-asp/2016/zika-eng.php

Health Canada Travel Advisory: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/notices-avis/index-eng.php

The U.S. Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/zika  

Screening for Imported Donor Options

Although testing and screening methods vary slightly between banks, all samples are comparable in terms of safety and quality. As the leader of sperm banking in Canada, we strongly stand behind these fundamental principles of ensuring the best product possible for our patients.  You may learn the full details for screening of imported donor samples by visiting Fairfax Cryobank.