Is there a quality standard that Fairfax Cryobank sets for all of the donors?
All of our donors must meet a minimum post-thaw standard of 35% motility. ICI and IUI-ready specimens must meet the minimum post thaw standard of 20 million total motile cells per milliliter (ml) concentration or 10 million TMC per vial. The IVF specimens must contain a total of 5 million motile sperm per vial.
I have had a bad experience with Fairfax. 5 vials, all not meeting their minimum requirements. I spoke with Stephen Pool and he will not refund me the money and I will not use samples from them again. I have spent over 4,000 on their vials not to mention the cost of the drugs and most of all the emotional cost.
I have every intention of pursuing this to the full extent, Fairfax is playing with peoples lives and do not care. The two different donors I order from are still being sold on their website even though they are aware these donors have issues. Unbelievable.
I am doing research on the Internet, with the FDA, and with CBER and am requesting full disclosure on why I am not being refunded as well as why substandard donors are still being used.
During my research I have found so many complaints and issues with Fairfax I see this as something that should/will be given to a Lawyer. This company should be held responsible for both the financial and punitive damages they are inflicting on people.
these are quotes from postings from other people about Fairfax, I am not alone….
“There is obviously no quality control at Fairfax and when they are called on it, they refuse to stand behind their warranty. I’ve wasted so much money (doctor’s fees, shipping fees) not to mention taking fertility drugs, monitoring my cycle and taking time off work just to get in there and have the doctor tell me that once the sperm was thawed it was practically useless. They were very dismissive as well and didn’t even care when I told them I would sue. They were practically laughing when they gave me the name of the person to which I should address the suit to (Dr. Stephen Poole). They are playing with people’s lives and they don’t care. They still have those two donors with the low counts up on their site. So I’m sure other women will be getting the same experience as me.” 04/24/2009 13:03
“We are using donor sperm from Fairfax cryobank and have now had 2 different IUI rounds where the sperm counts were so low our doctor said he didn’t expect them to work. One was only 2 million! Fairfax has been nasty and dismissive about it and is trying to pass the buck.” 06/12/2008 09:50
“I was looking recently at the list-serves which are a part of the donor sibling registry and i was struck by the number of complaints about the Fairfax Bank. More than any other mentioned. Things like instances where problems with the sperm were know to the bank, yet they didn’t contact other folks who had used the same donor. I think it was that the donor was discovered to have some inheritable genetic problem. What I gleaned from reading the list-serve is that Fairfax has a reputation for being unhelpful in the way that you describe.” 08/22/2008 22:41
“I absolutely hate Fairfax – they have been totally unprofessional to work with. We spent $4,000 on 8 vials, and have spent the last 5 months doing IUIs – costing us $$$ each month.
Every single time, the donor’s count was heinously low. 4mm! 5mm! 6mm! My doctor almost didn’t even want to do the last IUI, with the 4mm count. It’s caused me endless financial, physical, and emotional strain. Not to mention Fairfax refuses to refund me for any vials – claiming my doctor called after the 5 day deadline.” 09/07/2008 01:28
I have been researching the extent of Fairfax’s lack of quality and the damage they are doing, both emotional and financial. The two donors for me were 1480 and 2533 and they are both still knowingly being sold on their website.
The amount of complaints I am finding is shocking to say the least. If anyone has more info about what their experieces are please post them and if possible the donor numbers, at least future peple may benefit by avoiding those donors of not Fairfax altogether.
The extent of the damage Fairfax is doing goes far beyond financial, I found the article at the link below
http://www.donoroffspringhealth.com/downloads/donor1084.pdf
That company has no ethics and let alone not pulling vials based on low motility they are not pulling vials when they have been told that the donor’s sperm is producing off spring with genetic health problems.
If anyone has anything they want to share please post it here.
