Great Lakes Cryobank (GLC) is directed by a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and active member of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). Great Lakes Cryobank strictly adheres to the standards and criteria published by the AATB, American Fertility Society, ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine), and FDA for the screening, selection, and acceptance of donor sperm, as well as the processing, testing, and distribution of donor semen specimens. Great Lakes Cryobank is actively registered with the FDA.

Semen Donor Eligibility Screening Requirements

Donor semen candidates are required to complete a three-generation medical, genetic, and social history, personal interview, and physical examination with a physician. Each application is reviewed by a technician during a personal interview with the donor candidate and approved by the medical director. If there is any condition in the candidate’s family that would increase the risk of transmission of a genetic illness to their offspring, the candidate is not accepted into the program.

Semen Analysis

A semen sample is collected and a complete semen analysis is performed, which includes measures of volume, concentration, motility, and gross morphology. Any candidate whose semen specimen does not meet the minimum standard of 80 million motile cells/mL, 50% motility, and normal morphology is excluded from the donor program. A second verification semen sample is collected to prove consistency with the initial semen analysis. The sample is then frozen and subsequently thawed for post-thaw analysis. The thawed specimen must meet the minimum standard of 20 million motile cells/mL, 25% motility, and 50% cryosurvival to be considered acceptable. The Hamster Egg Penetration Assay is also performed to ensure the fertilizing capability of each donor candidate’s sperm.

Testing

All candidates are carefully screened according to current FDA regulations. Candidates are tested for HIV 1 & 2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV 1 & 2, syphilis, CMV, Chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Donor candidates are also screened for a chemistry panel, CBC, Myco/Ureaplasma culture, bacteria culture, herpes/CMV culture, drug screening, cystic fibrosis, and chromosome analysis. Donor candidates with Jewish, Mediterranean, or Afro-American/African ancestry are tested for Tay-Sachs, Thalassemia, and Sickle Cell Anemia, respectively. Appropriate selected re-testing is continued throughout the donor’s donation period. All donor semen specimens are quarantined for six months. At the end of the quarantine period and prior to the release of any specimens, the donor is re-evaluated for HIV 1 & 2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV 1 & 2, syphilis, CMV, Chlamydia, and gonorrhea. If any test result is positive, the donor is eliminated from the program.

Directed Donation

Great Lakes Cryobank offers assistance to recipients that wish to use sperm donations from a directed or known semen donor. Directed donors are required to complete the same screening process as anonymous donors, including the six month quarantine and repeat testing. The recipient is responsible for all fees involved in screening their potential donor. Please contact us at (414) 649-2045 for additional information on our directed donation program.

Ordering Donor Specimens

Donor sperm specimens may be chosen from a catalogue, which includes a description of the semen donor’s physical characteristics, education, occupation, and personal interests and/or talents. Extended donor profiles are available upon request at a small fee. These profiles include additional information regarding the donor’s genetic and medical history, and personal information. We strongly recommend reviewing the extended profile before making your final donor selection.

Due to a variable donor demand, we recommend that a first, second, and third choice is made. Specimen orders must be placed by the physician’s office between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-4:00p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m.Friday. Orders should be placed at least five days prior to the date needed. Please contact (414) 649-2045 for ordering specimens or additional information.

Storage

Great Lakes Crybank provides storage for donor semen if your physician’s office does not have this capability, or if you choose to order multiple specimens to ensure a specific donor’s availability for subsequent inseminations. Annual storage fees are dependent on the number of vials in storage. Please contact (414) 649-2045 for fee information.

Potential Sperm Donor Candidates

Great Lakes Cryobank is looking for males ages 18 to 39 to participate in our semen donation program.The semen specimens that are donated are used to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy. A potential donor candidate must first complete a phone interview with a technician in order to participate in the donation program. The phone interview takes approximately ten minutes and will determine if the candidate is qualified to participate in an initial appointment at our facility.

At the initial appointment, the donor will be asked to complete a general characteristic questionnaire and a three-generation family medical and genetic history questionnaire. The donor will also be required to submit to a blood test and collect a semen specimen for analysis. If the questionnaire, semen analysis, and blood test are acceptable then the donor will be required to return for a second appointment.

The second appointment consists of collecting a second semen specimen to verify the consistency of sperm concentration, motility, and post thaw analysis. If the second semen specimen is acceptable, the donor will be required to return for additional blood and semen testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

The donor will also be required to have a physical examination with the physician at our facility for final approval into the donation program. Once the donor is accepted into the program, the donor will begin regular weekly donations for six months. The donor is compensated for each acceptable donation. Six months after the final semen donation, the donor must return for the final blood test.

Becoming a Sperm Donor

You can play an important role in helping infertile couples become parents by participating as a semen donor. Only a small amount of your time is required, and generous monetary compensation is provided. Program participation is strictly confidential. For more information, you may call our Great Lakes Cryobank Office at (414) 649-2045.

Great Lakes Cryobank Donor Sperm Catalogue

For additional information please call our Andrology Lab at (414) 649-2045
or email ceallabs@aiof.com