|
||
Choosing a Donor |
||
FAQ's
How do I get started? How do I get started?
Your first step for selecting a donor should be to choose a health care professional to help guide you through the process. After seeking professional medical advice, the process is fairly simple. You can browse our donor catalog to view donor profiles, or you can perform an advanced search for specific donor characteristics. Once you have chosen several possible donors (we can’t always guarantee the inventory of each donor, so it’s important to select more than one) simply call us to place an order. While shipping takes up to three days for out-of-state orders, orders placed in the Boston area may be picked up the same day. A small preparation fee applies. What type of information do I need to have prepared to place an order?To place an order we require the following:
What is the difference between an ICI, an IUI and an ART prepared specimen?
ICI and IUI (sometimes referred to as “unwashed” and “washed”) and ART specimens are used for various artificial insemination procedures, with some doctors preferring one preparation method over the other. In most instances, a doctor will recommend washed units for an IUI insemination (intrauterine insemination). The process of making an IUI specimen begins before cryopreservation. The sperm are separated from the seminal fluid by centrifugation and a cryoprotectant is added, creating an IUI specimen. While IUI is most often requested for intrauterine insemination, some doctors wish to wash the specimen themselves, and therefore instruct their client to order ICI (intracervical insemination) specimen to be washed in their office or facility. An ART vial is prepared for an assisted reproductive procedure such as an in-vitro fertilization or an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). These vials generally have a lower total motile sperm count as not as many sperm are needed for these types of procedures. What methods of payment do you accept?
NECC accepts most major credit cards including VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, and DISCOVER cards. We also accept cash, checks and money orders, and we offer payment plans for orders over $1500. Please contact us for details. What types of shipping arrangements are available?We know how important it is to receive your order when you need it. While we offer a variety of standard delivery options, we will also go to great lengths to make sure you get your order when you need it. Our shipping capabilities are unsurpassed – we take extraordinary care to protect your specimen and deliver it in ideal condition. For clients in the Greater Boston area, standard courier delivery is Monday through Friday for delivery to a medical facility or your home. Specimens will be delivered a minimum of one business day after the order is placed. You may also elect to avoid delivery charges and pick up your order at our Newton laboratory. A preparation fee applies. For clients anywhere else in the world, we ship vials using a highly qualified priority delivery service and offer several delivery plans. All specimens are shipped in liquid nitrogen portable vapor shippers, guaranteed by the manufacturer to protect the specimens for 7 days from the date of shipping. Please see our page on Shipping for more information. What diseases do you screen a donor for?We conduct the following tests on every donor:
* These tests are conducted on donors from specific ethnic groups. What is the purpose of the Quarantine period, and how long does it last?A donor is tested for a number of infectious diseases when he starts in the donor program. The semen is frozen and stored for 180 days and then the donor is retested. This allows for seroconversion, i.e., for enough antibody to show up to be detected by the blood test. This is an important step to ensure the health of both mother and baby. View a list of diseases tested for. How important is choosing a donor with a specific blood type?Donor blood type may be important to you if:
We strongly encourage you to discuss blood type matters with your physician or health care professional. Can I perform the insemination at home or can this only be done at the doctor’s office?Yes. Provided the proper forms are completed, an insemination can certainly be performed at home. Many of our clients prefer the privacy of this method. We do recommend, however, that you seek medical advice before beginning this process. We require that you keep the name of a medical professional on file with us before we release specimens to you.Can I use a friend or relative as a donor?Yes. While this simplifies the process of selecting a donor, your friend or relative will need to adhere to the same process all of our sperm donors follow. This includes submitting an application with health history, which is reviewed by our medical staff. The selected donor must also have a physical and blood drawn. If there are no medical obstacles, your selected donor must visit our lab to produce a specimen. The specimen will then be quarantined for six months, after which the donor will be retested for infectious diseases. If test results are negative for disease, the specimen can then be released for insemination. How do I report a birth?Please contact our offices to report a birth. We limit the numbers of pregnancies that can be achieved with each donor’s sperm. Therefore, it is very important to us to track the numbers of pregnancies for each of the donors. Your information is crucial to our laboratory directors who track these statistics. Does cryopreserving sperm reduce the success of achieving a pregnancy?Cryopreserving sperm typically results in some loss of fertilizing capacity. However, this may be compensated for by increasing the number of sperm used during insemination. Successful pregnancies have recently been achieved with sperm frozen for 28 years. How are my specimens stored?After sperm is collected, it is cryopreserved in a liquid nitrogen tank at -196 degrees Celsius (-320 degrees F), a temperature at which all metabolic processes are suspended. The specimens are stored in our state-of-the-art laboratory, which is under constant surveillance. Storage is maintained by a staff of highly trained cryogenic professionals supervised by a team of medical professionals. How can I be assured the specimens I withdraw are mine?Accurate indentification of a specimen is one of NECC's prime concerns. Our triple-check system ensures that each specimen is correctly coded on the storage container, and listed in inventory documents simultaneously. After a specimen is produced, it remains under the responsibility of one of our trained techicians. This policy ensures that there is no confusion when it comes to the constant knowledge of banker identities throughout and after the processing and prepping for cryopreservation. What are your credentials?Our laboratory and scientific protocol are certified, licensed and/or governed by the following organizations: Certifications - NECC is certified and licensed with the following regulatory agencies: American Association of Blood Banks Registrations - NECC is registered and governed by: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Memberships - NECC subscribes to the standards and practices of: American Association of Bioanalysts NECC scientists are active members of: New England Fertility Society How do you package and ship specimens?
We send the specimens in liquid nitrogen dry vapor shipper tanks via our highly qualified priority delivery service or local courier. The specimens are guaranteed by the manufacturer in the dry shipper tanks for 7 days from the date shipped. Shipments in the greater Boston area can be delivered the same day by our own local courier.
Will my insurance cover this?
Perhaps – coverage for fertility issues varies amongst insurance providers. Please check with your insurance company to determine coverage. Please note that NECC does not accept payment directly from insurance companies for any services provided – you will need to arrange for payment and seek separate reimbursement from your insurance company. We can provide you with the records and invoices you may need for filing a claim. How do I know whether you received my information?
You can contact us at any time to determine the current status of your account. Our toll-free number is 1-800-991-4999. Does NECC offer a buyback program?For vials currently listed as available in our catalog, NECC will buy back donor vials at 50% of the original purchase price, provided the vials have not yet left our facility. An administration fee will apply. Please call regarding our “Specimen Buyback” policy for specimens which are no longer listed. Does NECC offer a vial exchange program?
We allow clients to switch active donor vials in their inventory for vials of another available donor. An administration fee applies. We will not accept for return any specimen that has left our facility. What is a Release of Identity Donor?
A number of donors participate in our Release of Identity Donor Program. This means that the donor has agreed to have his identity released to any offspring, once the offspring turns age 18. Many parents believe it is important to give their children the chance to discover more about their biological fathers. Can I reserve specimen for future offspring?
Yes. You may purchase extra specimens and store them with NECC. If you later decide you no longer want them, you can return specimens for 50% reimbursement of your original purchase price provided the donor is still listed as active in our catalog and the vials have never left our facility. An administration fee applies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|