There are a number of factors that should be considered when selecting a sperm bank. Below are questions you might want to ask when deciding upon a sperm bank, and California Cryobank’s (CCB) responses:

1. Is the sperm bank accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)?
Only a few sperm banks in the U. S. have voluntarily submitted to and passed the stringent accreditation process of the American Association of Tissue Banks. Many sperm banks state that they “meet or exceed” the AATB guidelines. This does not mean that they have been through the accreditation process. Make sure that the sperm bank you select has been inspected and accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks.

CCB’s Response: All locations of The California Cryobank are accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB).

2. How many years has the sperm bank been in business?
There is no substitute for experience! Anyone can post a web site, but how much experience does the sperm bank actually have? Be sure that the sperm bank you choose has a solid track record. Sperm banking is a specialized service. Experience is not an area where you should compromise.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank has provided sperm banking services for over 25 years. Over the years, we have earned the reputation as being “the choice of leading fertility specialists”. Our specimens are shipped throughout the United States as well as to over 30 countries!

3. Is the sperm bank owned and operated by physicians?
Physician involvement is of critical importance in the operation of a sperm bank. Clients benefit from ownership and operation by physicians as opposed to non-medical administrative personnel.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank is owned and operated by Drs. Cappy Rothman, urologist and one of the founders of the area of male infertility, and Dr. Charles Sims, a pathologist. The sperm bank was started to help Dr. Rothman’s infertility patients experience the joy of parenthood. Our physician owners are able to understand and meet the needs of clients and fertility specialists around the world.

4. Is sperm banking the company’s primary business?
Companies have options on where to spend their resources. Selecting a sperm bank whose primary business is reproductive tissue banking ensures that you are receiving the full benefit of their staff’s focus and resources. Companies who venture into other areas may not have the resources or time to improve and innovate as do those for whom sperm banking is their main business.
CCB’s Response: California Cryobank’s core business is sperm banking. Our commitment to sperm banking allows us a single-minded focus on meeting client needs and improving our services. We do not conduct any medical procedures at our facilities, leaving this up to local physician specialists. Our cord blood bank is a separate division at a different location with its own equipment, medical director, staff and budget.

5. Does the sperm bank employ full-time genetic counselors?
Genetic counselors play an important role in screening donor applicants. Genetic counselors assist clients with questions regarding the donor’s family medical history and also follow up on client outcome of insemination and pregnancy reports. Ask your sperm bank if they have full-time genetic counselors on staff (not just as consultants).

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank has multiple full-time genetic counselors on staff.

6. What percentage of applicants are accepted into the donor program?
Quality sperm banks are very selective about the donors accepted into their program. Contrary to media portrayal, the process to qualify sperm donors should be a quite detailed and lengthy process.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank accepts only 3% - 5% of all applicants into our donor program. It takes about 3 months to qualify a donor into our program.

7. What type of donor screening does the sperm bank perform?
Sperm banks vary in the type and frequency of donor screening conducted. Sperm bank brochures (or web sites) should detail the infectious disease tests and genetic screenings conducted on sperm bank donors. Tests and genetic screenings should be FDA approved (validated for accuracy and reliability) and provide meaningful information to clients. More tests are not necessarily better.
CCB Response: California Cryobank conducts rigorous screening on all donor donors. Details on our infectious disease testing and genetic screening program can be found in our information packet and on our web site.

8. Does the sperm bank offer a varied donor selection to satisfy the needs of a diverse group of clients?
The selection of a sperm donor is a highly personal decision, one that can be based on many different factors. Using a sperm bank that offers a wide variety of donors will make the selection process easier.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank has one of the largest selection of donors. We purposely recruit and offer a wide variety of donors in order to meet our client’s needs.

9. Does the sperm bank have an Open Donor Program?
Sperm banks have different philosophies about open donors. Some feel that contact between the donor and offspring should not be allowed. Other sperm banks offer some type of program where contact between the donor and offspring may occur.

CCB's Response: California Cryobank offers the CCB Open Donor Program. The CCB Open Donor Program consists of selected CCB donors who state their intent, at the beginning of their participation in the program, to respond to a request for contact from offspring when the child is 18 or older. CCB will facilitate the first contact in order to protect the donor and child.

10. Does the sperm bank limit the number of vials collected from each donor?
The California Cryobank closely monitors its donors in order to limit the total number of family units to no more than 20 to 30 worldwide. The usual number of pregnancies reported per donor ranges from 10 to 30.

We manage the donor by carefully reviewing donor outcome of insemination reports, the duration we allow donors to remain in our program, the number of specimens obtained and the total number of vials processed.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank limits the amount of time our donors participate in our program which, in turn, limits the number of vials in distribution.

11. How often does the sperm bank update their donor catalog?
Sperm banks update both their printed and on-line donor catalogs with varied frequency. Some printed catalogs are updated monthly, others are only quarterly. An up-to-date catalog ensures that you have the most current information on the availability of donors. Ask your sperm bank how frequently they update information on donor availability.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank’s on-line donor catalog is updated hourly. Our printed catalog is updated monthly.

12. Are the vials listed on the sperm bank catalog currently available for purchase?
To boost the number of donors on their catalogs, some sperm banks include donors whose vials are not yet available or whose availability is limited. Select a sperm bank that lists only donors with vials currently available, so that if you select the donor, there are vials available for purchase.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank’s donor catalog lists only donors with available vials. We do not list donors whose vials will be available in the future or donors who have a very limited number of vials.

13. Does the sperm bank offer a payment plan option?
Unfortunately, most insurance policies do not cover reproductive tissue banking services. Thus, clients must pay out-of –pocket before services are rendered. Some sperm banks offer ways to make it easier for clients to pay.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank offers multiple payment methods, including payment plans, to provide our clients with a variety of payment options.

14. Is the donor profile presented in the donor’s own handwriting or is it transcribed?
Information presented in the donor’s own handwriting is less likely to contain transcription errors. It also provides additional insight into the personality (or handwriting style) of the donor.

CCB’s Response: California Cryobank presents all donor profiles in the handwriting of the donor. This eliminates the need for transcription and reduces the possibility of transcription errors.

15. What is the sperm bank’s philosophy about different types of donors?
Sperm banks have different philosophies about donors. Some feel that all donors are equal, regardless of their characteristics. Other sperm banks charge clients more for select types of donors, whether based on education or available information.

CCB's Response: California Cryobank sees all of our donors as unique individuals and charges the same for all donor vials.