Human semen may transmit infectious or genetic disease regardless of its evaluation prior to use in assisted reproduction, including artificial insemination. Xytex, through its screening procedures, substantially reduces the risk of transmissible disease but cannot guarantee absence of such risks to a woman using donor semen, as well as to her child.

To reduce the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases, Xytex obtains extensive personal, medical and social histories from each semen donor. These histories are updated semiannually. Semiannual testing of donors includes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1&2), human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV I & II), syphilis, hepatitis B & C, CMV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. Only after repeatedly negative results are specimens released from quarantine and made available for shipment to physicians.

To reduce the risk of transmitting genetic diseases, Xytex obtains extensive medical and family histories from each donor. These histories are updated semiannually and each one is reviewed by a physician. When required, consultation is obtained from a board-certified clinical geneticist. Commercial laboratory tests are available for only a fraction of more than 5,000 genetic diseases, making comprehensive testing for genetic disease impractical. Screening is performed for selected genetic diseases and as warranted by a donor’s ethnic and racial background. It is important to note that screening of the semen donor does not reduce the risk of a woman transmitting genetic disease to her child.

Despite the intensive screening and quarantine process, Xytex cannot guarantee the donor sperm is free of infectious and genetic disease. The inherent, though minimal, inaccuracies of many laboratory tests do not allow exclusion of such risks. However, the repetitive and strict nature of the process is intended to produce the safest product possible.