- HIV-1 and 2
- hepatitis B and C
- Treponema pallidum (the agent for syphilis)
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Neisseria gonorrhea
Donor Screening
The screening process involves a:
- review of medical history and test results
- physical examination
- patient interview to evaluate risk factors (including high-risk social behaviors
- risk or evidence of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).
- inheritable disease screening
For egg and sperm donors donating after May 25, 2005
Egg and sperm donors donating after May 25, 2005 must also undergo a donor eligibility determination, which automatically applies to any embryos created. (If remaining embryos are donated later, no additional testing is required of the egg or sperm donor, although the original donor eligibility requirements for sperm donors are more extensive than for egg and embryo donors).
Federal law
- Federal law does not require that any attempt be made to conduct a donor eligibility determination on donors of embryos created prior to May 25, 2005. However, if they are able, donors should be prepared to undergo the related testing and screening to prevent transmission of communicable disease.
- For frozen donor sperm collected prior to May 25, 2005 that will be used to create embryos after May 25, 2005, there is no requirement for a donor eligibility determination to be performed on the sperm donor. The majority of sperm banks have been testing and screening donors for most relevant communicable diseases for many years.
Donor eligibility
A potential donor is deemed ineligible to donate if either the testing or screening indicates the presence of a communicable disease or risk factor. In a known donation, it is possible for recipients to receive embryos from donors who have completed the testing and screening process and been deemed ineligible to donate.
In such cases, the recipients should be prepared to sign a legal waiver acknowledging informed consent, and accepting all responsibility. Check with RSC about details as to any allowable exceptions. Similarly, if a donor eligibility determination cannot be made (for example, if a donors refuses to be tested or is dead), both known and anonymous donations can still proceed with the informed consent of the recipients after they have been informed that an eligibility determination regarding the donors was not made.
Donor reimbursement
RSC follows practice guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the ethics guidelines of the American Medical Association (AMA), which clearly recommend against the sale of embryos.
Some donor expenses reimbursed by recipients
Donation is, by definition, an altruistic act. Donors should not expect payment for any portion of the personal medical expenses incurred during their own fertility treatment that resulted in the creation of the embryos, but recipients routinely assume responsibility for any additional costs related to the donation itself.
Recipients normally reimburse donors for legal fees, any current embryo storage fees, the costs of any medical or psychological screening or retesting of the donors in conjunction with the donation, and any other expenses involved in the transaction. The recipients should incur responsibility for the related fees even if there are no embryos to transfer after the thaw.
Legal consent by donors
Your RSC team will advise you of the relevant legal issues that must be considered in advance of FET. Donors are advised to seek legal guidance from an attorney specializing in third party assisted reproduction regarding the applicable laws in the states where both parties reside. RSC will guide to you to expert legal counsel.
Psychological assessment of donors
RSC require that donors meet with a mental health professional who specializes in infertility and donor issues to ensure that they are fully informed and in agreement. The psychologist’s role is not necessarily to evaluate donors, per se, but more to help them explore the issues and their thoughts and feelings regarding the donation of embryos or the use of donor embryos. RSC requires that both partners be present for a consultation, or require some other evidence that they are both fully informed and in agreement (such as a signed document of informed consent from the spouse of the recipient female).
Referrals for legal and psychological consultation
RSC encourages you to review our recommended legal and psychological resources that have top expertise in third party parenting issues.
