Genetic Disease Testing

Sperm Donor Testing

It is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of genetic conditions and genetic inheritance in order to provide the best possible donor screening for inherited conditions.  Fairfax Cryobank provides the expertise of board-certified clinical geneticists in evaluation of the donor's medical and family history as well as reviewing the test results of the extensive genetic screening performed on all sperm donor applicants.  Any applicant with a family history that places him at higher than normal risk of transmitting a genetic condition is rejected.

Any candidate that is identified as a carrier or exhibits evidence of any of these diseases is not accepted into the donor program.

All Donors:

• Chromosome Analysis (karyotype)
• Cystic Fibrosis (at least 86 mutations)
• Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

All New Donors since June 2008

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Donors with SMA testing are indicated on their medical profiles as being tested. Please contact Client Services by phone (800-338-8407) or email for a list of tested donors.

Donor of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry:

• Tay Sachs disease
• Canavan disease
• Gaucher disease
• Bloom syndrome
• Fanconi-Amemia Type-C
• Niemann-Pick Type A
• Mucolipidosis Type IV
• Familial Dysautonomia

Donors of French Canadian Ancestry:

• Tay Sachs disease

Donors of Irish Ancestry (began testing in 6/2008)

• Tay Sachs disease

Donors of Asian, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean Ancestry:

• Thalassemia

Donors of African, Black American Ancestry:

• Sickle Cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies

        * Fairfax Cryobank screens all donors regardless of ethnicity for the presence

          of both hemoglobin S and C trait.

Click here for a detailed description of these genetic diseases.

See a Sperm Bank Comparison, where Fairfax Cryobank is compared to other sperm banks.