Donor Quality Standards

How is your Vial Quality?

At Seattle Sperm Bank, vial quality is one of our top priorities. We stand behind our products with pride and confidence. If you ever have a problem or question concerning your vial quality, please contact us so we can work with you and your clinic to resolve the issue. Our product promise: every properly thawed IUI vial contains at least 10 million motile cells in a 0.5 ml volume, and every ICI vial contains at least 15 million motile cells in a 1.0 ml volume.

We perform a post-thaw count on one vial from every lot to confirm the sperm survive the freezing process and still meet our high standards. Our fully trained Biological Analysts perform a post-thaw count on one vial from every lot to confirm that the number of motile sperm in our vials meets our minimum quality standard of 10 million motile sperm per IUI vial and 15 million motile sperm per ICI vial.

For more information about the vial types available for purchase and distribution, please visit our Vial Types webpage.

If you have any questions about vial quality and your vial was counted at more than 25% below our minimum quality standard, please have your clinic fill out this Form and return it to clinicsupport@seattlespermbank.com. Please note that any additional shipping and/or handling of the specimens that was not authorized by Seattle Sperm Bank will void SSB’s quality guarantee.

Please note that our IUI ART, ICI ART and ICSI vial types contain less motile sperm than our standard IUI and ICI vial guarantees, and do not qualify for replacements or refunds. In addition, please note that our guarantee applies ONLY if our thaw procedures are followed and applies to specimen at the time of thaw, prior to any post-thaw processing.

Please note that any orders placed for delivery to a non-clinic address (residence, place of work, UPS/FedEx Store, etc.), do not fall under our routine Quality Guarantee, as motile sperm count(s) cannot be verified by a trained andrologist or embryologist. Additionally, any claims of receiving a thawed cryotank or thawed vial(s), will need to be verified by sending the vial(s) back to Seattle Sperm Bank, with the return of the cryotank, for microscopic verification that the specimen was thawed and not used for insemination.

What are Seattle Sperm Bank’s requirements for becoming a donor?

What type of health screening does Seattle Sperm Bank perform on Donors?

Seattle Sperm Bank tests and screens donors more than any other sperm bank. We pioneered the Genetic Carrier Screening, and have continuously expanded our screening panels on various levels.

For a detailed breakdown of our screening process, please refer to this link: https://www.seattlespermbank.com/donor-testing-and-screening/

What if a donor is a carrier for a genetic condition? Should I get genetic testing?

We encourage you to speak with your doctor regarding the option of extended genetic testing, and risks associated with selecting a donor who is a known carrier for a genetic condition.

We offer genetic testing services directly via Myriad Genetics.

For more information, please visit this link: https://www.seattlespermbank.com/counsyl-carrier-screening/

I am seeing CMV status listed for your donors. What does this mean?

Cytomegalovirus, commonly known as CMV, is a common virus that most American adults have been exposed to and have developed immunity to. In healthy adults and children, CMV can cause mild cold or flu-like symptoms that may last 1-2 weeks. However, if a woman who has never had CMV becomes exposed during pregancy, there is a small risk the child may develop neurologic abnormalities.

For more information about CMV please refer to this link:

What Is CMV And How Can It Affect My Pregnancy?

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