View Ordering and Shipping FAQs
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Either you or your healthcare provider may place an order. Before placing an order, please check availability online or by calling customer service. We also recommend you review all available donor information. Fairfax Cryobank recommends placing your first order over the phone. This will allow you to understand the ordering process and prepare for subsequent orders. You may do so by contacting customer service at 800-338-8407 Monday through Friday 7am - 6pm ET. Additionally Fairfax Cryobank provides online ordering for donor semen and additional information through the donor search.
It is recommended that orders be placed at least 7 days prior to the expected arrival date for shipments to help ensure that the physician account is set up, the donor is available and all shipping addresses are accurate. Fairfax Cryobank offers a courtesy hold for units up to 10 business days. All hold orders will be cancelled on the tenth business day if the order has not been completed. Deliveries are made on business days only. Should there be an exceptional circumstance, Fairfax Cryobank will do all that is possible to accommodate the patient and/or provider.
Fairfax Cryobank accepts all major credit cards, money orders, and cashier checks. Personal checks are not accepted. Cash is accepted for local pickups only. Fairfax Cryobank must receive any money order or cashier check before shipping date. Fairfax Cryobank does not work with or arrange payment with insurance companies, although we can provide you with copies of paid invoices to submit to insurance upon request.
For All Orders:
Your physician must have an account with Fairfax Cryobank before you are able to place an order. It only takes a 10 minute phone call to open an account with your physician, however, please recognize that your physician's office is very busy. Please allow your physician's office one full day to have ample time to contact us and set up their account.
Please be sure to read and understand our Terms of Use Letter which explains what to expect from our semen donor program and what we expect from you when purchasing our semen and other services. Effective November 1, 2006 for new patients, the Terms of Use Letter must be signed and returned to us prior to shipment of any donor specimens. The form may be returned by fax, mail or a scanned image into an email. You may contact Customer Service for assistance.
Please be prepared to provide the following information when placing an order:
- Physician name, address, and phone number
- Shipping address (if different than physician's clinic address)
- Patient name, address, and phone (required for patient pre-pay, optional for physician orders)
- Donor number(s) in order of preference
- Number of doses and specimen type (IUI or prewashed, ICI or standard, IVF)
- Shipping type (FedEx 2 Day or FedEx Priority Overnight, local courier, or local patient pick up)
- Date the specimens need to arrive at the physician's office
- Payment information (prepayment or physician billing information)
- A signed and returned Terms of Use letter
Shipping:
Regular shipping services are available from the Fairfax, VA facility only. Shipments from other Fairfax Cryobank facilities will only be available on a pre-arranged basis and a two-week notice may be required. All non-local (outside the Washington metroplex) shipments are transported by Federal Express for either overnight or 2nd day delivery to your physician's office. Shipments in the Washington DC metroplex area are by local courier or patients have the option of picking up the order from Fairfax Cryobank. Specimens are shipped in liquid nitrogen containers designed to keep the semen specimens frozen for up to 7 days from the time the shipment leaves Fairfax Cryobank. Fourteen day tanks are available, please call our customer service department for availability. Each Federal Express shipment in the USA contains a pre-addressed return air bill for return of the shipping container and is pre-paid both ways. We now provide FedEx email tracking of your shipments. Ask Client Services to set it up for you.
International shipments:
International shipments to countries not serviced by Federal Express are carried by the most appropriate service available. Door to door services may not be available in all countries; in such cases, shipments may only be from door to airport thus requiring the physician or patient to make arrangements for final transport to the physician's office. In some situations, a deposit of $975.00 (U.S. dollars) may be required for each nitrogen container shipped internationally. The deposit is refundable upon return of the shipping container in good condition to Fairfax Cryobank. Fees and arrangements associated with the return of the shipping container to Fairfax Cryobank are the responsibility of the person receiving the shipment. All fees including the shipping container deposit (if applicable) must be paid prior to shipment.
Deadlines:
For FedEx shipments:
All non-local shipments (outside of the Washington D.C. Metro area) are transported using FedEx and are delivered directly to the health care provider's office or your home address (if the Home Consent Form has been completed by your physician). Orders must be complete before 2pm ET on the day shipment is required. A rush fee will be accrued for orders placed between 2pm ET and 3pm ET if the lab can accommodate. Orders placed after 3pm ET cannot be shipped the same day.
For Local Pick-ups:
Orders placed before 12pm ET can be picked up the same day, given a 3 hour preparation time. Rush fees will apply for pick up orders placed on the the same business day as pickup. A rush fee will be accrued if the order is placed between 12pm and 1pm if the lab can accommodate. Orders placed after 1pm ET cannot be picked up the same day.
For Internet orders:
All Internet donor semen orders must be placed PRIOR to day of shipment.