A
Artificial Insemination
Placing sperm cells into the cervix or uterus using a catheter
for the purpose of achieving pregnancy.
Back to top.
B
Breast Cancer-1 (BRCA-1)
A gene involved in hereditary breast cancer. About 1% of Ashkenazi
Jews carry a mutation in the BRCA-1 gene called 185delAG. Women
who carry this mutation in the BRCA-1 gene face an 85% lifetime
chance of developing breast cancer and a 50% lifetime risk of ovarian
cancer. Men carrying this mutation may have an increased risk of
prostate and colon cancer.
Back to top.
C
Chlamydia
Chlamydia testing detects infection with the organism Chlamydia
trachomatis. This organism causes infection of the urinary or reproductive
organs and can result in infertility.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
CMV testing detects current or past infection with the cytomegalovirus,
a member of the herpes family. In adults, this virus which is spread
through contact with infected secretions, generally causes a mild
self-limited disease characterized by fever, sore throat and swollen
glands. However, infection of a fetus during pregnancy can result
in stillbirth, mental retardation, hearing loss, and other serious
problems. Testing can be done by antibody testing, semen culture
and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibody testing detects current
or past infection with the cytomegalovirus. Semen culture testing
and/or PCR detects an active infection. Only specimens from donors
who test negative for the semen culture and PCR or are antibody
negative for CMV are released for use. It is important to note that
a positive ("reactive") serum antibody titer to CMV indicates
only that the individual has been infected with the virus at some
time in the past. Unlike HIV, the vast majority of these individuals
are not shedding CMV from any site and are not infectious.
Cryopreservation
Cooling and storing cells in a frozen state at a temperature
which provides high survivability when thawed (-196°C for sperm
cells).
Cryoprotectant Buffer
A chemical component of a freezing solution that protects
the sperm cells by preventing changes in acidity during the cryopreservation
process.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
The most common recessive disease in the Caucasian population, affecting
1 in 2500 persons. Individuals with CF usually have severe lung
disease and other problems leading to chronic illness and shortened
lifespan. CF carriers ordinarily do not exhibit symptoms of the
disease. DNA testing of donor applicants reduces the chance that
a donor is a carrier of CF from 1 in 25 to 1 in 160, accomplishing
almost a 7 fold reduction in CF risk for offspring from tested semen
donors.
Back to top.
G
Gonorrhea
Gonococcus testing detects infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae,
the organism that causes gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can cause inflammation
of the urinary tract in men and women. In women it also is a cause
of pelvic inflammatory disease that can result in infertility.
Back to top.
H
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core antibody
tests detect current or past infection with the hepatitis B virus.
This virus attacks the liver. While the infection is usually self-limited,
some individuals become chronically infected. A proportion of chronically
infected individuals may develop cirrhosis and/or cancer of the
liver.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C antibody test detects current or past infection
with the hepatitis C virus, another virus that attacks the liver.
Infection with this virus results in chronic infection in some cases.
Chronically infected individuals may develop cirrhosis of the liver
and/or liver cancer.
Herpes Simplex Virus
1 & 2
Testing detects infection with Herpes simplex virus 1 &
2. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) typically produces infections
of the skin, oral mucosa, and eyes. The most serious risk is encephalitis
in both children and adults. Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) typically
causes genital lesions. Newborns of symptomatic mothers can acquire
HSV-2 by passage through an infected birth canal, where primary
infection can be severe, possibly leading to viremia and central
nervous system infection. Individuals with suppressed or compromised
immune systems may experience severe HSV primary infection or viral
reactivation, possibly leading to disseminated infection involving
multiple organs, including the central nervous system. HSV assays
that depend on viral culture or direct antigen testing may lack
the sensitivity to detect low-level viral titers, and serological
tests may not differentiate between past or present infection.
HTLV-I & II
HTLV-I & II testing detects infection with the human
T-cell lymphotrphic virus types I & II. This virus may cause
a chronic progressive nervous system disease. HTLV is a retrovirus
that usually establishes an asymptomatic, but chronic infection.
In a small percentage of patients, HTLV infection can progress to
adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), or HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical
spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).
Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)
A type of retrovirus (human immunodeficiency virus) that
infects helper T cells of the immune system. It is responsible for
various illnesses including the fatal illness acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). Two strains have been identified. The most common
serotype, HIV-1, is distributed worldwide, while HIV-2 is primarily
confined to West Africa.
HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibody Tests
HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody tests detect infection with two kinds of
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These viruses result in various
illnesses including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
HIV Detection by PCR
HIV infection is normally screened by HIV antibody testing.
It may take several months before seroconversion and antibody detection
after an individual becomes infected with HIV virus (Ranki et al.,
1987; Imagawa et al., 1989). Present sperm banking standards recommend
a 6 month quarantine period and HIV antibody retest before frozen
human semen donor specimens are released for use. HIV testing using
PCR to detect HIV viral DNA may identify infection with the virus
prior to seroconversion, and thus could prevent procurement and
use of specimens from seronegative donors that may be HIV infected
(Pexxella et al., 1989). For this reason, Fairfax Cryobank tests
all donors for HIV by PCR in addition to the normal antibody tests.
Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV)
Human papilloma Virus (HPV) testing detects infection with human
papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted viral disease
worldwide. Some types of the virus cause common skin warts. High
Risk types (eg, HPV-16 and HPV-18) have been associated with anogenital
cancer, particularly cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus has been
confirmed by clinical studies to be the primary cause of cervical
cancer. The authors of an article in the March 2001 issue of Obstetrics
and Gynecology recommend HPV testing of sperm donors. The article
can be found on pages 357-360 of volume 97 of the journal.
Back to top.
I
ICI (Intracervical Insemination)
Placing semen in the cervix using a catheter.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
Placing washed sperm cells directly into the uterus.
Back to top.
L
Liquid Nitrogen
Nitrogen gas that has been cooled to the liquid state (-196°C)
and used to cool and store cells in a frozen state.
Back to top.
M
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma testing detects infection with the organism Mycoplasma
hominis. This organism has been linked to infertility.
Back to top.
P
Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR)
A method of replicating very small amounts of DNA which can be used
in HIV testing to detect HIV viral DNA prior to seroconversion of
the individual.
Back to top.
S
Semen
The male ejaculate containing a mixture of seminal plasma and sperm
cells.
Spermatozoa (Sperm)
The fully developed male reproductive cells.
Semen Analysis
Examination of fresh ejaculate under the microscope to assess the
concentration (count), morphology (shape) and motility of sperm
cells.
Seminal Fluid
The liquid portion of an ejaculate composed of fluid from the prostate
and seminal vesicle glands of the male.
Back to top.
V
Vial
A container used to package frozen sperm. It is sometimes referred
to as a dose or a unit.
Back to top.
W
Washed Sperm Cells
Sperm cells that have had the seminal plasma and dead cells removed
by the process of centrifugation.
Back to top.
|
