Donor Screening Information:
- Why does California Cryobank perform a genetic evaluation on donor applicants?
- How is a donor's family history information collected and verified?
- What happens when new medical information is received about a donor or his offspring?
- What genetic testing does California Cryobank currently perform on its donors?
- Why are some donors screened for more conditions than other donors?
- How does California Cryobank manage a donor if he has positive or abnormal genetic test results?
- What is residual risk and how is it calculated?
- When are new tests added to the donor qualification process?
- How can I find out what genetic tests were performed on a donor?
- Why doesn't California Cryobank test for all known genetic diseases?
- Can I request that a donor be tested for other genetic conditions?
- Should I inform California Cryobank if I have a family history of a particular genetic disorder?
- Can genetic testing eliminate the risk for birth defects and other health issues?
- What is DNA Ancestry testing?
- Why does California Cryobank perform a genetic evaluation on donor applicants?
Everyone has a 3 to 4% chance to have a child with a birth defect, regardless of whether they conceive naturally or use assisted reproductive technologies. It is not possible to eliminate these risks or test for all of them before becoming pregnant. However, a genetic risk assessment is performed on California Cryobank's donor applicants as part of the donor qualification process to help assess if there could be an increased risk for significant medical problems in a donor’s offspring based on the reported family history. The goal of the risk assessment is to try to reduce the risk for significant medical problems in the donor's offspring. - How is a donor's family history information collected and verified?
Medical information is elicited from donor applicants over several months from the time of their first contact with our company. Information is collected in multiple formats and by several different staff members and reviewed for consistency and accuracy. Each donor applicant also meets with one of our Reproductive Genetics Specialists to have a three-generation family medical history evaluation. If we receive information that is incomplete or inconsistent, the applicant will be required to provide additional information to clarify his family history in order to continue with the program. - What happens when new medical information is received about a donor or his offspring?
The staff in our Genetics Department document all medical issues and updates received about a donor's personal or family medical history or an offspring's medical history.
Donor Updates
All donors are asked to inform us of changes in their personal or family medical histories that occur after they have retired from our program so that we can make this available to clients and donor-conceived persons for their medical records. The new information is not added to the donor's long profile because it is a static document representing the medical history of the donor at the time he entered our program. Please contact our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384 to inquire about a donor’s personal and family medical history updates.
Offspring Updates
All clients are asked to inform California Cryobank if their child or pregnancy has a significant medical problem. One of our Reproductive Genetics Specialists creates a confidential report and reviews the information along with all other medical history for that donor to determine the appropriate management. To report a medical problem, please call our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384 or visit our “Contact us” page here.
In most cases, the medical information collected will not represent an increased risk for medical problems in the donor’s offspring. However, in the event that we receive information that indicates a specific risk for a medical problem in other offspring of that donor, we will attempt to contact clients to whom this information is relevant, as determined by the Medical Director. However, clients are welcome to contact the Genetics Department to learn of any updates on their donor at any time.
It is very important for all clients to keep California Cryobank informed of any changes in their contact information so that we can inform them about any significant medical information that could be relevant to their child's health. Clients can update their contact information by logging into their account or by calling our Client Services Department at 866-927-9622.
It is also very important for all clients to inform California Cryobank of their pregnancy and of their child's birth. Clients can call our Client Services team at 866-927-9622 or can report their pregnancy or child's birth online. All information received is strictly confidential. - What genetic testing does California Cryobank currently perform on its donors?
Expanded Genetic Testing
DNA Advantage Donors are screened for over 260 genetic conditions, including cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and all other conditions currently recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Visit our Expanded Genetic Testing FAQs for more information about DNA Advantage Donors.
Chromosome Analysis
Chromosomes are the structures that carry our DNA. A chromosome analysis looks at the number and the structure of an individual’s chromosomes. Typically, an analysis of human chromosomes reveals a total of 46 chromosomes. If a sperm donor applicant has an abnormal chromosome number or structure, he would not be eligible to participate in our program. - Why are some donors screened for more conditions than other donors?
Since the availability of genetic testing has changed over time, each donor has had different genetic testing. Not all donors have had expanded genetic testing and donors with expanded genetic testing have been screened on panels of different sizes. A donor may have also had additional testing through our Special Testing Service. Clients can request that special testing is performed on a donor due to their egg sources’ positive carrier test result or other needs.
The Genetic Test Summary is a report that tells you which genetic tests were performed on a specific donor and the results of those tests. Please download and discuss your donor’s Genetic Test Summary (GTS) with your personal healthcare providers to verify that the donor is suitable for your needs.
Still have more questions about the genetic screening performed on a donor? Call our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384. - How does California Cryobank manage a donor if he has positive or abnormal genetic test results?
All people carry mutations for disorders that are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. If a sperm donor is known to carry a mutation for one or more inherited disorders, this information is made available to all clients on the donor’s Genetic Test Summary (GTS). The donors’ offspring are not at risk to be affected with those conditions unless their biological mothers also carry mutations for the same condition, or if a new mutation occurs in the offspring by chance.
We strongly recommend that all recipients discuss their donor’s Genetic Test Summary with their healthcare providers prior to using that donor’s vials, in order to determine if the donor’s results are suitable for their personal reproductive plans. - What is residual risk and how is it calculated?
No genetic testing has a detection rate of 100%, nor are all possible disease-causing variants currently known. There will always remain a small possibility that a person carries a mutation for a condition that is not detected by the testing performed. A residual risk is the chance that a personal could still have a genetic mutation for that condition even though their test result was negative or normal. The residual risk is interpreted by the testing laboratories and is based on an individual’s ethnic background, the mutations analyzed, and how commonly the mutations occur in the population tested.
Please Note: Genetic testing can reduce the chance for specific inherited conditions in a donor’s offspring but it cannot eliminate the risks for those disorders or other untested conditions. In addition, there is always a 3 to 4% chance to have a child with a medical issue, regardless of the screening performed. - When are new tests added to the donor qualification process?
Genetic tests and technologies are continuously being developed and improved. These new developments may lead to changes in the genetic testing that we perform on our sperm donor applicants. In most cases when we add new genetic tests to our screening process, the tests are performed on new donor applicants. The new tests are not performed on retired donors. Therefore, not every donor who has vials available for purchase has had exactly the same genetic testing. - How can I find out what genetic tests were performed on a donor?
Every donor has a Genetic Test Summary available as a free donor information item. The Genetic Test Summary is a report that tells you which genetic tests were performed on a specific donor and the results of those tests. To learn more about the information on a Genetic Test Summary call our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384. Our Reproductive Genetics Specialists are available to discuss the tests performed on a donor as well as the test limitations and additional testing options that may be considered. - Why doesn't California Cryobank test for all known genetic diseases?
It is not possible to test anyone for all possible genetic diseases. There are thousands of inherited disorders, and the causes of many of these conditions are currently unknown. - Can I request that a donor be tested for other genetic conditions?
Special requests for genetic testing are accommodated whenever possible. If you have a family history or carry a mutation for a particular condition and there is a medical risk to your offspring, we will contact your donor and determine if he is available for additional testing. For more information, please contact the Genetics Department at 877-743-6384. Please see our Special Testing Information Sheet for more details. - Should I inform California Cryobank if I have a family history of a genetic disorder?
Yes! In some cases, if you have a personal or family history of a genetic condition, the genetic testing performed on our donors may not be sufficient for your pregnancy. Special testing may be available on your donor of interest. If you have a positive genetic test result or a family history of a genetic disease, please contact our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384 to obtain information about special testing options that may be available for your situation. - Can genetic testing eliminate the risk for birth defects and other health issues?
No. There is no way to eliminate all health risks in a pregnancy or child. There is always a 3 to 4% chance to have a child with a birth defect or medical issue, regardless of the screening performed. In addition, many conditions such as autism, allergies, mental health disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, are caused by a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors and therefore do not have predictive genetic tests available.
While it is not possible to test any one person for every genetic disorder, genetic testing is performed on our donor applicants for numerous disorders inherited in a recessive manner. The genetic testing helps to identify risks or reduce the risk for specific disorders in the donors' offspring but cannot eliminate these risks. - What is DNA Ancestry testing?
Your DNA is a small part of who you are, but it can reveal a lot about you and where your ancestors came from. Tiny variations in our DNA are passed down through families for generations and can be used to trace our ancestries back hundreds or even thousands of years. DNA Ancestry looks for these small DNA variations to estimate our geographical ethnicity. By comparing the results to a genetic database of lineages, we get a better understanding of where our ancestors came from. We created DNA Ancestry to provide an extra layer of information about our donors while protecting the privacy of everyone involved. You can view more information about our DNA Ancestry reports here or contact our Genetics Department at 877-743-6384.