Evaluating the necessity for universal screening of prospective oocyte donors using enhanced genetic and psychological testing.
BACKGROUND
To minimize the potential for harmful inheritable conditions, donors are rigorously screened according to standard guidelines, yet such guidelines may not be sufficient to exclude egg donors with certain known inheritable conditions. We compared universal screening of oocyte donors with Tay-Sachs, Fragile X, karyotype and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) versus standard American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines that do not include such testing.


METHODS
In this 12 year retrospective cohort study, results of enhanced universal screening of all anonymous oocyte donor candidates from 1997 to 2008 at a university hospital oocyte donation program were reviewed. Primary outcomes were the frequency of oocyte donor candidates excluded as a result of enhanced universal screening (Tay-Sachs, Fragile X, karyotypic analysis and MMPI-2) versus basic screening according to ASRM guidelines.


RESULTS
Of 1303 candidates who underwent on-site evaluation, 47% passed the screening process, 23% were lost to follow-up and 31% were excluded. Genetic and psychological factors accounted for the most common reasons for candidate exclusion. Enhanced genetic screening excluded an additional 25 candidates (19% of all genetic exclusions) and enhanced psychological screening excluded an additional 15 candidates (12% of all psychological exclusions). Altogether enhanced screening accounted for 40 candidates (10%) of the total pool of excluded candidates.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our study is limited by its retrospective nature and center-specific conclusions, we show that enhanced comprehensive screening can exclude a significant number of candidates from an oocyte donor program and should be encouraged to assure optimal short-term and long-term outcomes for pregnancies achieved through oocyte donation.
Reh
Andrea
A
New York University Fertility Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. andireh@yahoo.com
Amarosa
Alana
A
Licciardi
Frederick
F
Krey
Lewis
L
Berkeley
Alan S
AS
Kump
Lisa
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D015331:Cohort Studies; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000639:trends; D006579:Heterozygote; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000523:psychology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013661:Tay-Sachs Disease / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult