Providing Donors of Diverse Ethnic Origins Worldwide with Assured Personal and Confidential Care

Answers to common questions

This information is designed to answer questions often asked by clients and\or medical personnel regarding BioGenetics' services.

BulletWho makes up the anonymous donor population at BioGenetics?
BulletWhat else can you tell us about the donor?
BulletHow often do these donors provide samples to BioGenetics?
BulletWhat is the difference between BioGenetics' "donor list" and the company's "Actual" Donor Inventory?
BulletWhat determines the availability of a donor specimen vial(s)?
BulletIs the supply of all donor specimens the same?
BulletWhat is a donor vial and how do you characterize the content?
BulletWhich donors will be available next month?
BulletCan orders be placed a month in advance?
BulletHow does one plan to have a family using the same anonymous donor?
BulletWhen selecting a donor, why must a minimum choice of four donors be selected?
BulletWhat paperwork is needed before placing an order?
BulletWhen should an order be placed?
BulletWhat information is needed to complete an order for donor vials?
BulletWhat are the shipping/delivery options and procedures for physicians and their patients?
BulletWhat method of payment is available to pay for all of the above services?
BulletAny additional questions?


Who makes up the anonymous donor population at BioGenetics?

The Anonymous Donor Program relies on an active recruitment campaign and draws on individuals from within the four states immediately surrounding New Jersey; BioGenetics donors are of diverse ethnic origin.


What are some of the safety standards applied to the donor population? 

  • Donors undergo medical evaluations and a comprehensive personal lifestyle interview. 
  • The donors have met all the requirements for quality assurance and safety through standardized laboratory tests and procedures in use at BioGenetics. 
  • The anonymous donors submit to rigorous laboratory testing which involves the monthly testing of semen, blood and urine samples for the following tests: HIV, HTLV, Drug Abuse, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (CMV, Chlamydia, Myco/Ureaplasma, Herpes, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis). 
  • In addition to the monthly testing, the donors are screened initially by a number of diagnostic laboratory tests (A complete test list is found in our Donor Quarterly). 


What else can you tell us about the donor?

  • BioGenetics relies solely on the information provided by the individual donors. These preset questions have been developed to gather personal and family medical history. In addition, questions relating to the donor's lifestyle have been selected to help establish the donor's social and personal behavior. 
  • Copies of each Donor's Personal and Family Medical History and Personal Lifestyle Interview are available for a fee of $12.00 per donor. The fee includes regular US mail delivery. 
  • Whenever possible baby picture(s) are available at the donor's discretion for a fee of $12.00 per donor. 

How often do these donors provide samples to BioGenetics?

Donors collect samples on a weekly basis for a minimum of six (6) months, allowing the bank to build up a reliable inventory. A donor's participation in the program is limited to three (3) years to minimize consanguinity.


What is the difference between BioGenetics' "donor list" and the company's "Actual" Donor Inventory? 

"The Donor QUARTERLY" is published and mailed to physicians and prospective clients upon request. It lists the donors whose specimens will be available at some point during the following three (3) months. 

The company's Donor Inventory is updated monthly in-house to reflect the actual donor specimens to be released for sale during that particular month. 


What determines the availability of a donor specimen vial(s)?

The availability of a donor specimen vial (s) is based on two (2) factors:

(1)

All donor vial(s) must have remained in quarantine for a period greater than 180 days in the minimum. Every eligible donor must have tested "negative"or within the "normal range" for all mandatory laboratory testing. (For a complete listing of the tests performed, please refer to " The Donor Quarterly").
(2)

The review of all of the above records and the authorization for the release of all eligible donor vial(s) by the Medical Director For example, a specimen collected in January will be released for sale in August, provided that all criteria are met.


Is the supply of all donor specimens the same?

No. Since the quality of semen specimens varies from donor to donor, and sample to sample, so does the number of vials to be released six (6) to eight (8) months later. There is no standard number of available vials for all donors. For example, a typical monthly inventory may read as follows: 

DONOR SPECIMENS
Donor # 9 - 13 vials  Donor #49 - 100 vials
Donor #13 - 26 vials Donor #72 - 31 vials 
Donor #36 - 9 vials


What is a donor vial and how do you characterize the content? 

Each vial of cryopreserved donor sperm is ready for intrauterine insemination (IUI). However, BioGenetics' vials as prepared may be used for all other assisted reproductive procedures when supervised by a physician. 

BioGenetics guarantees each vial to have a concentration of not fewer than:

10 million motile sperm cells per vial
with an index of forward progressive motility 2.0
(0=non motile//3.0= excellent foward progressive motility)


Which donors will be available next month? 

The exact inventory for each donor is not released until the first working day of the month. If a donor does not have his monthly test results completed or the results are not within acceptable limits by the time of the planned inventory release, that donor's vials will not be released for sale. BioGenetics' Medical Director reviews all donor test results immediately before the release date. At that time, a determination is made as to which donor specimen vial(s) will be released and made available for assisted reproduction. 


Can orders be placed a month in advance?

No! BioGenetics does not subscribe to advance orders or advance reservations of specimen vials. Orders are taken on a first-request basis. 

Ordering Information
24 Hours IS REQUIRED FOR THE ORDER PROCESSING for delivery within the U.S
48 Hours IS REQUIRED FOR THE ORDER PROCESSING for delivery to CANADA, PUERTO RICO and HAWAII.
72 Hours IS REQUIRED FOR THE ORDER PROCESSING for delivery to all other WORLDWIDE destinations.


How does one plan to have a family using the same anonymous donor?

BioGenetics' policy allows clients that have a proven pregnancy by a given donor to purchase specimens through a reserve program. (Please call BioGenetics for details). This would allow for siblings from the same donor. We recommend that this action be taken within the second or third trimester of pregnancy. However, it is always best to consult with your physician.



When selecting a donor, why must a minimum choice of four donors be selected?

If the prospective clients first donor choice is not available, or has not been released for sale, the doctor's office or client would proceed to order the second, third or fourth choice. This will help reduce anxieties related to the process of donor selection and help the medical staff and client in better coordinating these efforts. 

Choosing a donor is usually the responsibility of the client. The four (4) choices should be listed in order of preference and remain in the client's chart at the doctor's office for ordering purposes. 


What paperwork is needed before placing an order?

A. All Physicians and/or Medical Facilities that are in charge of the medical management of the client(s) considering using anonymous donor sperm, must, review, complete, sign, and return a Physician/Medical Facility Agreement for Purchase of Cryopreserved Donor Sperm. The aforementioned document must be received at BioGenetics prior to the placement of their first order. 

B. All clients, client's spouse and/or partner, considering using anonymous donor sperm must review, complete, sign and return a Patient Acknowledgement And Consent For Therapeutic Assisted Reproduction By Cryopreserved Donor Sperm. This document may be obtained through the Physician's office or directly by the client from BioGenetics. The aforementioned document must be received at BioGenetics prior to the delivery and/or shipping of the specimen vial(s). 

C. For clients to place their own order it is necessary to have a signed Physician Authorization Form For The Direct Patient Purchase of Donor Cryopreserved Specimen(s). The aforementioned document must be signed by the supervising physician and submitted to BioGenetics prior to placing the first order. Patients placing their own order must be ready to prepay for each order prior to delivery and shipping of the specimen vial(s). 

D. A Phone Confirmation Follow-Up form, available from BioGenetics must be received from the physician and/or client by BioGenetics before an order will be delivered or shipped.


When should an order be placed?

Orders can be placed at any time during the month. Given the level of demand, we recommend ordering a specimen early in any given month, even if this order needs to be altered or canceled prior to the expected delivery/shipping date. Orders for specimens are filled on a first request basis. 

If a delivery date has not been established at the time of placing the order, a tentative date can be set. A Phone Confirmation Follow-Up form, provided by BioGenetics must be faxed or mailed in, to arrive at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the shipping date, confirming the delivery date. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the sperm bank is not contacted during that month using the Phone Confirmation Follow-up form the order will not be delivered/shipped. 


What information is needed to complete an order for donor vials? 

When placing an order, the following information is needed:

(1) Doctor's name, address and phone number
(2) Patient's initials
(3) Donor Number selected
(4) Number of vials required
(5) Date of shipping/delivery
(6) Name of person placing the order

All of the aforementioned information must be confirmed in writing using the Phone confirmation Follow-Up form.

(NOTE: BioGenetics will only ship/deliver to a physician's office.)


What are the shipping/delivery options and procedures for physicians and their patients? 

Orders are shipped via Federal Express. BioGenetics does not ship orders on Fridays for a Monday delivery. If an assisted reproduction procedure is scheduled for a Monday, it is recommended, that, the order be shipped for delivery on the Friday before the procedure. Orders are shipped in portable tanks charged with liquid nitrogen vapor. The BDS/tank keeps the vials frozen for five (5) days, inclusive of the shipping day. A tank expiration date is printed at the top of the packing slip enclosed with every shipment. The vials must be used within the first five (5) days or transferred to a permanent storage tank within the first five (5) days from shipping to avoid the vials from thawing. BioGenetics recommends liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapor environment for the extended maintenance and storage of vials. 

Orders can be delivered via BioGenetics' Personal Courier Service (see area of coverage in the fee schedule). This service is not available on Saturday, Sunday, or Holidays. 

Saturday shipment via Federal Express can be arranged, provided the courier service is available in your area. There is an additional charge for Saturday shipments. There is no delivery service available for Sunday or Holidays using common courier service. 


What method of payment is available to pay for all of the above services?

Payment may be made by any of the following means: Money Order, Bank Check, Certified Check, American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. 


Any additional questions?

PLEASE CALL BIOGENETICS' CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
800-637-777



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