HFEA clarifies situation on sperm screening in the UK
20 August 2003
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has clarified that proper screening of donated sperm requires it to be stored and quarantined, and that such sperm storage is only legal in HFEA licensed clinics.
Proper screening requires sperm to be frozen and quarantined in a licensed storage facility before it can be used for treatment. This quarantine process requires a licence from the HFEA, therefore sperm from unlicensed services cannot have been quarantined and properly screened. Current HFEA guidelines recommend that donated sperm should be quarantined for at least 180 days in order to detect infections such as HIV.
Angela McNab, chief executive of the HFEA says:
"The HFEA takes very seriously any claims made by unlicensed organisations indicating that they are providing services which by law require a licence from the HFEA."
Ends
Notes to editors
Full details of HFEA donor screening requirements can be found in part 4 of the HFEA 5th edition Code of Practice.
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
Page last updated: 12 March 2009