Genetic services for informed family building

California Cryobank rigorously screens applicants to help ensure they’re qualified to be donors and to help you better understand their personal and family medical histories and genetic testing. We continue to request and document relevant donor updates to share with you, and to help inform your family’s health for years to come.

Donor screening provides information you need

It’s important to realize that no one (or their family) is “perfect” or perfectly healthy. However, we can screen donors to help recognize how their genetic makeup may present a risk of certain serious diseases or conditions in individuals who are conceived using their donation.

Personal and family medical history
In addition to conducting a physical exam, blood work and psychological assessment, we also ask donors to complete a comprehensive medical history, reporting on any condition that has affected or may affect the donor or his family members. The history is then reviewed by our coordinators and genetics team to help inform the next step, the genetic interview. 
Genetic interview
During this approximately one-hour interview, the reproductive genetic specialists will create a three-generation pedigree to capture the donor-reported health concerns for the donor and his family members (including parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins). Donors are often asked to reach back out to family members to gain clarification for follow-up questions or details of a diagnosis. In some cases, medical records may be requested — or required — should further investigation of a health concern be warranted.    
Chromosome analysis  
A chromosome analysis (sometimes called a karyotype) is a global view of a potential donor’s DNA (genetic material) that looks for large, structural changes that can increase the risk for miscarriages, stillbirths, and birth defects. If such a change is discovered, that applicant would not be accepted as a donor.   
Carrier screening
Genetic test summary (GTS)
Additional genetic testing
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What we know about genetics is always evolving

What we’ve learned

There are a number of examples of how far we’ve come in analyzing genetic information. For example, carrier screening tests once only looked for two conditions, but now examine a multitude of genes to screen for hundreds of conditions. Additionally, many DNA variations that we once thought were simply benign, we now understand may present a risk for disease. And sometimes the opposite is true: a variation that had once been considered “risky,” may not actually be cause for concern. We’re also learning more about the effects of multiple genes interacting with environmental exposures and how different factors can impact our risk for disease. 

What’s left to discover

While our knowledge and discoveries are always growing, they are not without limitations. First and foremost, genetics and health risks are incredibly complex areas of study. And we can learn about each donor using only the genetic and health information that was available (and that was considered pertinent) at the time it was reported.  It’s also important to remember that the genetic tests performed on a donor do not evaluate the risks for all known heritable diseases. As such, that testing can reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk for genetic diseases. 

What you need to know for your donor selection

Genetic considerations and talking to your healthcare provider

Share the GTS and profile

Download and share the GTS  and medical details of the donor profile for each of your “top-choice” donors so your healthcare provider can review the donor’s information. 

Share the carrier screening acknowledgment form 

For certain donors, you’ll be required to sign a carrier screening acknowledgment form before purchasing any of that donor’s vials. It simply states that you are aware of specific information about that donor’s genetic testing (that may or may not be relevant to your future donor-conceived children) and advises you to consult with your physician before purchasing.  

Consider additional testing 

Compare your results

Ask your healthcare provider to compare the results of your (or the egg source’s) carrier screening with that of the donor to help ensure it’s a “good match.” Our genetics team is also happy to help compare the results to your donor’s. 

Lasting support that benefits your family

When we say we’re dedicated to a long-lasting relationship with you and your family, we mean it!  
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    Family limits and more

    We ask our families to complete an online insemination report (pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth) as soon as you’re able. Learning the outcome of your insemination (or procedure) helps us to manage our family limits more effectively as well as understand what donor updates would be most relevant for us to share with you.
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    Identification information

    In most jurisdictions, once your child turns 18, they will be allowed to request contact with the donor or the donor's identifying information. Note that in certain jurisdictions, your child may be able to request this information prior to age 18. When they make that request, we will need to consult your account and/or insemination report to confirm your child's identity. Of course, we keep all identifying information (including your and your child's name, birthday, and location) private in compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
  3. A parent laying down next to a baby smiling.

    Exclusive benefits

    Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy with us, you’ll gain access to valuable benefits that are available only to our California Cryobank families: FREE newborn stem cell preservation and one year of storage from CBR®, Sibling Registry, Donor Keepsake, and Family Vial Vault eligibility.
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  1. A parent holding their child with big smiles.

    Family limits and more

    We ask our families to complete an online insemination report (pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth) as soon as you’re able. Learning the outcome of your insemination (or procedure) helps us to manage our family limits more effectively as well as understand what donor updates would be most relevant for us to share with you.
  2. Two women embracing each other, smiling.

    Identification information

    In most jurisdictions, once your child turns 18, they will be allowed to request contact with the donor or the donor's identifying information. Note that in certain jurisdictions, your child may be able to request this information prior to age 18. When they make that request, we will need to consult your account and/or insemination report to confirm your child's identity. Of course, we keep all identifying information (including your and your child's name, birthday, and location) private in compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
  3. A parent laying down next to a baby smiling.

    Exclusive benefits

    Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy with us, you’ll gain access to valuable benefits that are available only to our California Cryobank families: FREE newborn stem cell preservation and one year of storage from CBR®, Sibling Registry, Donor Keepsake, and Family Vial Vault eligibility.
Item 1 of 3
A woman holding a mug, smiling while looking at their phone.

Staying up to date

We make staying in touch with our families a priority, and hope you’ll do the same. Obviously, we want to share any significant medical and genetic updates we receive about the donor with you and your child. While some of that new information will come from the donor, we can also learn a lot from our families. It’s especially important for you to let us know about any unsuccessful outcomes, concerns about your pregnancy, or health concerns for your child. That’s because sometimes that information could indicate an increased risk associated with the donor. If that were the case, we would need to make you, the donor, and other families aware (without sharing any identifying information, of course). We also may need to make decisions about the donor’s remaining vials. So, please keep your email information current and feel free to contact us with information you’d like to know or share.
Insemination reporting
Minimize
  1. A parent holding their child with big smiles.

    Family limits and more

    We ask our families to complete an online insemination report (pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth) as soon as you’re able. Learning the outcome of your insemination (or procedure) helps us to manage our family limits more effectively as well as understand what donor updates would be most relevant for us to share with you.
  2. Two women embracing each other, smiling.

    Identification information

    In most jurisdictions, once your child turns 18, they will be allowed to request contact with the donor or the donor's identifying information. Note that in certain jurisdictions, your child may be able to request this information prior to age 18. When they make that request, we will need to consult your account and/or insemination report to confirm your child's identity. Of course, we keep all identifying information (including your and your child's name, birthday, and location) private in compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
  3. A parent laying down next to a baby smiling.

    Exclusive benefits

    Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy with us, you’ll gain access to valuable benefits that are available only to our California Cryobank families: FREE newborn stem cell preservation and one year of storage from CBR®, Sibling Registry, Donor Keepsake, and Family Vial Vault eligibility.
Item 1 of 3
  1. A parent holding their child with big smiles.

    Family limits and more

    We ask our families to complete an online insemination report (pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth) as soon as you’re able. Learning the outcome of your insemination (or procedure) helps us to manage our family limits more effectively as well as understand what donor updates would be most relevant for us to share with you.
  2. Two women embracing each other, smiling.

    Identification information

    In most jurisdictions, once your child turns 18, they will be allowed to request contact with the donor or the donor's identifying information. Note that in certain jurisdictions, your child may be able to request this information prior to age 18. When they make that request, we will need to consult your account and/or insemination report to confirm your child's identity. Of course, we keep all identifying information (including your and your child's name, birthday, and location) private in compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
  3. A parent laying down next to a baby smiling.

    Exclusive benefits

    Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy with us, you’ll gain access to valuable benefits that are available only to our California Cryobank families: FREE newborn stem cell preservation and one year of storage from CBR®, Sibling Registry, Donor Keepsake, and Family Vial Vault eligibility.
Item 1 of 3
A woman holding a mug, smiling while looking at their phone.

Staying up to date

We make staying in touch with our families a priority, and hope you’ll do the same. Obviously, we want to share any significant medical and genetic updates we receive about the donor with you and your child. While some of that new information will come from the donor, we can also learn a lot from our families. It’s especially important for you to let us know about any unsuccessful outcomes, concerns about your pregnancy, or health concerns for your child. That’s because sometimes that information could indicate an increased risk associated with the donor. If that were the case, we would need to make you, the donor, and other families aware (without sharing any identifying information, of course). We also may need to make decisions about the donor’s remaining vials. So, please keep your email information current and feel free to contact us with information you’d like to know or share.
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We’re here to help

Feel free to reach out to our team of genetics professionals with any questions you might have about a donor’s genetic testing results, family medical history, or how that information may affect your donor selection. Just give us a call or contact us for more information.  

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Check out our valuable resources to help you learn more about using donor sperm for your family building.
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