Oocyte donor screening: the selection process and cost analysis

Objective: To evaluate the selection process and cost of screening oocyte d onors. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: University-based IVF program. Patient(s): Potential oocyte donors. Intervention(s): Outcomes of all inquiries by individuals responding to rec ruitment advertisements for oocyte donors over a 10-month period were asses sed. Recruitment and screening costs to bring a single donor into the progr am were calculated. Main Outcome Measure(s): The attrition rate for each step of the oocyte don or screening process was determined. The costs assessed over the study peri od included the following: advertisement, administrative, professional, ult rasound, and blood screening. The total cost to bring a single donor into t he program was calculated. Result(s): Advertisements led to 315 phone inquiries from potential oocyte donors. Of these, a total of 223 (71%) voluntarily withdrew from the screen ing process, 54 (17%) were screened out for medical or psychological reason s, and 38 (12%) entered the active donor pool. The total cost to bring a si ngle donor into the program was approximately $1,869. Conclusion(s): There was significant attrition in the screening process for oocyte donation that needs to be taken into account in determining the cos ts of managing the program. (C)2001 by American Society for Reproductive Me dicine.