Screening Process
Egg Donation Program

SCREENING THE DONOR
A session with a licensed clinical social worker is required. This session is intended to explore the donor's motivation and discuss the emotional aspects of egg donation.

Next, an appointment with a geneticist is scheduled. The purpose of this visit is to be come aware of potential genetic problems.

Then an appointment with either Drs. is required. Cultures will be done and blood drawn to screen for: herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, a rate leukemia virus (HTLV-I), and the AIDs virus (HIV 1 & 2).

SCREENING THE RECIPIENT COUPLE
A session with a licensed clinical social worker is required. This session is intended to be a time to explore the often complex emotional and social aspects of egg donation.

Both the partners must have up to date HIV 1 & 2, hepatitisB surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody screening tests (done within the last year). This precaution is taken due to the fact that the lab handles high-risk body fluids during the course of these procedures.

The man must have a "swim up" test. This is a semen test in which the sperm are washed and processed in the same way as they would be for the day of egg retrieval. It provides valuable information about sperm quality. A test for sperm antibodies and a culture will also be done on this specimen. The culture ensures that there are no harmful bacteria present in the semen, which could harm the eggs.

If the the man feels that collecting a semen specimen on the day of egg retrieval might be a problem, for an additional fee the lab can freeze a specimen to have as a back up.

The woman may need to have a hysterosalpingogram. This test determines if the uterine cavity is normal and able to support a pregnancy.

Both partners must take a course of antibiotics (Vibramycin or Erhthromycin) at the same time prior to embryo transfer. This serves to eliminate certain organisms from the reproductive tract that may interfere with implantation of the embryos.