Genetic Services

Sperm Bank Genetic Testing and Services

The experienced and caring Genetic Services team works cutting-edge technology to provide the most thorough sperm donor genetic testing and services. The team is available to answer your questions, discuss special testing, and set up suitable donor matches in an effort to provide the best sperm donor selection for you.

Fairfax Cryobank Genetic Services Team

Harvey J. Stern, M.D., Ph.D.,
Medical Director

As Fairfax Cryobank’s Medical Director, Dr. Stern is a Medical Geneticist with special expertise in evaluating genetic risks. His review of the donor medical and family histories adds a level of reassurance to the donor screening process.  If a donor’s medical or family history puts the children at increased risk, they are not accepted into the program.

Suzanne Seitz, M.S. M.P.A.
Genetic Counselor

Our full-time Genetic Counselor, Suzanne Seitz, MS, is available to help answer your questions and work with you to find a donor that is a good match for you.

You can reach Suzanne by emailing sseitz@fairfaxcryobank.com or calling 0800-404-9186.

Genetic Services

Donor Selection: Helping you find the ideal donor based on genetic testing results

Fairfax Cryobank is committed to providing the most genetic testing of any sperm bank. In fact, many donors already have expanded panels of almost 300 genetic diseases tested. This reduces the risk for your future children and can provide reassurance when planning your family. Visit our Expanded Genetic Disease Testing page to see more.

For families with a known history of genetic disease, we can work with you to find a donor that reduces risks for your future children.

Finding the ideal donor is now easier than ever! Sort the donors by the negative testing results by disease or gene name that matters to you. This selection feature is now available on the Donor Search.

Special Testing: If you select a donor who has not been tested for the conditions you need, we may be able to coordinate testing

If you select a donor who has not been tested for the condition you are a carrier of, we offer special testing on select donors. It can take up to 3 weeks for results and there is a fee. If you can find a donor already tested negative and therefore at reduced risk, we encourage you to look at the expanded panel donors before making a final decision.

If you wish to discuss special testing further and perhaps already have a donor in mind, we would be happy to talk to you.

Suitability Match

When you are ready to move forward with your preferred donor, our Genetic Counselor is available to compare your testing results to the donor’s results. If there is a situation that needs to be addressed, we can let you know the next steps. Suitability matches can also be done through your clinic, using your testing results they already have as the starting point of the comparison.

Donor Medical Status Updates

If there is an important medical update on the donor or his children, we want to be as transparent as possible. We will post the information on his Summary Profile update section right away. If there is an additional risk you need to know about, we will send out notifications to all those who have used the donor as well as the clinics that received the vial shipments.

If you are going to be using your donor sample soon, please check your donor’s status on the donor search. If his status (upper right corner of his donor page) still reads Active or Inactive, there are no additional concerns. If it reads Investigation or Restriction, information may already be posted in his summary profile update section or you may know about it from a notification you received.

To learn more about how we collect new medical information about donors and children conceived through their donor sperm, visit our Donor and Offspring Evaluation page.

To learn more about our sperm bank’s genetic testing services, visit:

• Expanded Genetic Disease Testing
• Donor and Offspring Evaluation
• CMV
• Blood Type Predictor