screening of potential sperm bank donors screening of potential sperm bank donors in sperm banks, screening of potential sperm donors typically includes screening for genetic diseases, chromosomal abnormalities and sexually transmitted infections (stds) that may be transmitted through the donor's sperm. the screening process generally also includes a quarantine period, during which samples are frozen and stored for at least six months after which the donor will be re-tested for stis. this is to ensure no new infections have been acquired or have developed during since the donation. if the result is negative, the sperm samples can be released from quarantine and used in treatments. the screening process and requirements vary significantly between jurisdictions. in the united states, the screening procedures are regulated by the fda, the asrm, the american association of tissue banks, and the cdc. the screening regulations are more stringent today than they have been in the past. in europe, the screening procedures are regulated by the eu tissue directive. components the cdc standards for sperm donor screening require: taking a medical history of the donor, his children, siblings, parents, and grandparents etc. for three to four generations back. this is often done in conjunction with the patient's family doctor. hiv risk assessment interview, asking about sexual activity and any past drug use. blood tests and urine tests for infectious diseases, such as: hiv-1/2 see sections below htlv-1/2 hepatitis b hepatitis c syphilis gonorrhea chlamydia cytomegalovirus (cmv) see sections below, although not all clinics test for this. blood and urine tests for blood typing and general health indicators: abo/rh typing, cbc, liver panel and urinalysis complete physical examination including careful examination of the penis, scrotum and testicles. genetic testing for carrier traits, for example: cystic fibrosis sickle cell disease thalassemia other hemoglobin-related blood disorders. cystic fibrosis carrier screening, chromosome analyses, and hemoglobin evaluations are performed on the majority of sperm donor applicants in the united states. donors of jewish, french canadian, or cajun descent may also get genetic testing for the carrier trait of tay–sachs disease, but there is significant variation in screening for other disorders that occur with increased frequency in this population. general health semen analysis for: sperm count morphology motility acrosome activity may also be tested cytomegalovirus screening for cytomegalovirus is not mandatory in all jurisdictions, and positive donors may still donate at sperm banks. donor screening for cytomegalovirus (cmv) is carried out by testing for igg antibodies against cmv that are produced if the donor ever has contracted cmv, which is the case in between 50% and 80% of adults. such antibody-positive individuals may potentially shed virus that remain latent in the body in the semen, infecting the mother and, in turn, the embryo/fetus. most babies will not be harmed by the virus, but a small percentage may develop neurological abnormalities. however, the risk of acquiring cmv infection from an antibody-positive sperm donor is believed to be extremely low, at least where sperm banks perform follow-up tests on antibody-positive donors for type igm antibodies that indicate current or recent cmv infection, and where sperm preparations are performed that decrease the amount of white blood cells in the samples, e.g. in samples prepared for iui. quarantine washing techniques are developing that purify sperm from viral load of hiv and hepatitis c, but nevertheless clinics do not offer sperm from carriers of significant stis. sperm donation and reduced birth defects