What is a waitlist?
We establish a waitlist when a specific donor does not currently have dose availability in any one preparation category. When the donor releases more units from quarantine, we contact as many patients as the dose count will allow at that time. Only when a donor returns for each blood draw are the units released from the corresponding specimen date. In some cases, the donor may not release again. We offer waitlists as a courtesy to our patients so that they do not have to continuously call us to check on a particular donor's availability.
What does the term " quarantine" mean?
As part of the screening process, we test each donor for infectious and genetic diseases. The donor is admitted into the program when all required infectious and genetic disease tests yield negative results. We then confine each donor specimen for six months in an internal storage tank. After six months, we draw the donor's blood to retest the donor for infectious diseases. At that point, we release any specimens left at our facility six months prior to the blood draw. Donors must pass infectious disease testing for HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I & II, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C, syphilis, CMV, Neisseria gonorrhea, and chlamydia trachomati.
How do I get my name added to a waitlist?
Please call our Client Services Department (1-800-338-8407) to have us add you to a waitlist. We allow up to 10 names per donor waitlist. Each donor has one waitlist, not one waitlist per specimen type. We will ask each patient for one contact number. Please provide us with a number in which we will be able to easily reach you (or if you regularly check the voicemail for this phone number). We will also ask for the contact person's first and last name, along with the type of specimen (IUI, ICI, or IVF) that the patient prefers. If the patient is able to use any two preparation types, we request that the patient also provide us with the type of unit they prefer. This allows Client Services to allot units appropriately to those who prefer one type over the other.
How long will it take to get doses once I get on the waitlist?
As soon as the lab receives negative test results on the donor, the lab notifies Client Services of the donor release. Client Services then distributes the units to the waitlist patients. At the end of each month, the lab provides CS with a list of the donors that have units that have been in quarantine for six months. This list, which is automatically computer-generated, allows us to give patients an idea of which donors are tentatively scheduled to release units from quarantine. Each donor who appears on this "release list" will only release units after his blood test results come back negative.
How many units can I purchase from the waitlist?
The number of units offered to each patient will depend on the total number of units we released on that donor. It will also depend on how many units we released of each preparation, along with the number of patients who stated a preference for one type of unit over another (for instance, if a donor released 6 IUI units but only two people on the waitlist stated a preference for IUI, then each person who requested IUI might be offered 3 IUI in that particular situation). There is no "normal" number of units released after each quarantine, so the number of units allotted will greatly vary from release to release and certainly from donor to donor. Client Services takes waitlists very seriously; we do our best to be fair to everyone on the list.
Am I guaranteed doses once I am on the list?
If you are on the waitlist for a donor who is currently "active" in our program, then it is likely that he will release again. However, a donor may leave our program at any time after he has fulfilled the six-month minimum commitment. Based on the specifics of each release situation, we do our best to provide each patient with doses. If a donor only releases 6 doses, however, then of course we may not have enough units to allot to each person on the waitlist.
Does it matter what number I am on the list?
Client Services does not number patients on our waitlists. We try to be as fair as possible and offer everyone on the list as even an amount as possible. A maximum amount of 10 names are allowed on waitlists.
How do I request a particular specimen preparation?
When we add you to the waitlist we will ask you what type of specimen preparation you prefer . This will allow us to better allot units when they become available.
Will my donor always have a waitlist?
Not necessarily. A waitlist exists only for the preparations for which a donor is sold out. For instance, if a donor has IUI units for sale, then we would only add IUI customers when the donor sells out of IUI units. However, at the same time that the donor has IUI units for sale, he may not have ICI units for sale. So ICI customers would be allowed to be added to the waitlist in this type of situation.
If the waitlist is full for the donor I select, then can I get on another list?
Unfortunately we do not offer a waitlist for the waitlist.
What is the process of ordering once I am offered doses?
Fairfax Client Services will notify waitlist patients as soon as doses are available for that patient to purchase. Each patient will then have two business days to respond to the offer. If we do not reach you in person, we will leave a discreet message on your voicemail (ex.: "Hello, this is Mary calling from Fairfax regarding catalog number 0876, which is now available. Please call us by 5:00 PM EST on Friday August 12 to accept this offer. Please call us at 1-800-338-8407." Patients automatically remain on the waitlist if they call back within their allotted two business days and purchase all of the units they are being offered. If someone does not return our call or does not purchase all of the units she is offered, then we remove that person from the waitlist. If someone is removed from a waitlist, we allow that person to add themselves back to the list after 72 business hours. This allows new patients the opportunity to be added to the waitlist.Out of courtesy for the others who are waiting on the list, we do not allow hold orders on any waitlist donors.
How long do I have to wait until I can get my name added back on the list once taken off the list?
You can request to have your name added back on the list 72 hours after it is removed.
How often should I call to check on my waitlist status?
Once your name is on the waitlist there is no need to call back and ask about your status. We will contact you as soon as we have units to offer you.
Please be sure and read out 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.