Before donating, sperm donors begin by filling out an application that includes such information as their age, occupation, education, and ancestry. After their initial application, donors provide a sperm sample for initial analysis, and then they provide a blood sample and an extensive medical history. Finally, sperm donors take blood tests throughout the time of their donations for:
- HIV
- Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis B & C
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Karyotyping 46 XY
- Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Sperm is frozen and stored for a minimum of 6 months before being released for use to ensure that the donor is healthy and disease-free. For a sperm bank with extensive testing, see the Seattle Sperm Bank: www.seattlespermbank.com.
