Please remember that even for things that are screened for now, it is only screening. It is not designed to detect all carriers.
For example, the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) screening will detect 90% of CF variants in white western European populations, in south Asian populations it is about 50%.
It doesn’t matter how much screening is done on donors, there are millions of hereditary diseases that could be passed to a Donor Conceived Person (DCP) and their children and grandchildren.
Screening also varied (and still varies) depending on whether the screening was done via the NHS or at Private clinics.
Prior to 1980
For those of us DCP who were conceived before 1980 it is widely acknowledged that NO screening was done at all.
We have had many reports from historical donors that no screening was done for historical donors before 1980.
We have heard of how one clinician in the late 1970’s asked a potential sperm donor to come into her office with his two young children. She looked at them and decided there and then that he would be a “good” donor. No further screening was done.
Margaret Jackson 1958 (from audio at Welcome Foundation SA/Eug/D/251/3a evidence to Eugenics committee). “Asked about screening – if she knew the donor she says none performed ; if donor unknown then she asked them about family history but did not perform a medical.”
Sperm Donor around 1974-77: “Old donor at the Jessop in Sheffield here – so likely catchment South Yorkshire and East Midlands, down to Leicester. George Pennington who ran it used predominantly Medical Students as donors. There was a brief health screening questionnaire for obvious things, and I imagine family history. Height, build, skin colour, etc noted, to match Father. Only bloods in those days was a WR for syphilis. We got paid £4 a go, which helped with beer money for hard up students (Tetleys was 12p a pint in 74), but motive was universally altruistic.”
Sperm Donor 1977 – 1978: “As far as I remember I was just screened for STDs and a family history. May have been asked about various diseases and conditions. Sample was tested for motility etc., then that was it.”
Sperm Donor 1977 – 85: “From memory screening was pretty perfunctory at the two clinics I primarily donated to in Harley St (Louis Hughes, Bridget Mason). I was tested for blood grouping, a Karyotype for gross chromosomal abnormalities and a WR for syphilis plus of course a sperm count. I don’t think HIV testing became available until around the mid 80’s and specific gene testing only really took off in the 90’s which would include testing for cystic fibrosis. Physical attributes like hair and eye colour were noted as well as ethnicity.”
1980 – 1991
After the rise in HIV screening became more common.
Sperm Donor 1980-83: “I donated but can’t remember being told what I was screened for so it would be guess work. I certainly didn’t receive any related paperwork, perhaps the recipient parents did? The only reliable source would be the medics but as programmes I believe were run independently (I know mine in North Devon was) in an unregulated environment probably no records survive.”
Sperm Donor 1981/2: “Likely tested for Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis. I suspect sperm was used frozen immediately? Also I was asked about my family history, that was it. In those days each clinic did their own things so pre 1980 no idea, unregulated comes to mind. These days it’s regulated, probably since HFEA was created. ie All sperm donations are stored for at least three months and you are then re-tested for infections (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, HIV, HTLV, Syphilis, CMV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea). If the results are satisfactory, your donations can be released for the treatment of patients. Genetic screening for Cystic Fibrosis, and other hereditary conditions are now routine, though not sure when CF screening started in the UK.”
Sperm Donor late 1986/early 1987 through to 1989: “I don’t have any paperwork now, but we were definitely regularly screened for HIV, and I suspect Hep B & possibly other STDs. My understanding was that the donations were frozen, then not used until a clear HIV blood test was obtained. I donated through BPAS, and have read subsequently that they did freeze samples, so this makes sense.”
Egg Donor 1990: Lister London. Screened for STD’s and HIV. Family history.
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) 1987
1991 – 2005
Once the HFEA was created, screening became more regulated.
If you donated between 1991-2005 and have details of what you were screened for, please email us at Info@DonorConceivedUK.org.uk with the details.
2005 – 2025
When the law changed in 2005….
If you donated between 2005-2025 and have details of what you were screened for, please email us at Info@DonorConceivedUK.org.uk with the details.
Help!
If you worked in the fertility industry and know the donor screening that was completed, regardless of which year, please do email us with the details at Info@DonorConceivedUK.org.uk. Thank you.
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