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Can I submit a request to Ovobank during this period?
Yes, you can send your request using the Ovotracker platform or directly filling the egg request form on our website. Once your application is submitted, one of our team members will contact and inform you about the following steps.
Should I wait until the COVID-19 alarm is over to start the search and selection of a matching donor?
No. As soon as we receive your application with the phenotypical features, our Bank and Donor Coordination teams will start matching the most phenotypically and immunologically compatible donor.
What measures have been taken by Ovobank to reduce the risk of the COVID-19?
We have implemented strong safety measures in order to protect the health and safety of our team, allowing us to keep offering a quality service to our patients and collaborators.
Furthermore, following the recommendations of the health authorities, we have temporarily rescheduled patients’ treatments and donors’ stimulations until this public health emergency ends.
Ovobank implemented the necessary measures to ensure that donors are not infected by coronavirus?
Yes, our donors underwent a risk assessment and a clinical evaluation before starting the stimulation, during the stimulation and 14 days after the donation, in order to exclude a possible infection. If there are no respiratory symptoms in that period of time, the gametes could be used. In addition, it is possible to perform an analytical study of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus that allows us to further increase the peace of mind of our donors and patients.
Is Ovobank carrying out donation cycles in this period?
No. At the present time the selection and stimulation of donors for our egg donation program has been temporarily delayed until this situation is resolved. However, Ovobank has vitrified egg sets so the egg supply is therefore not affected. Once the activity restarts, the necessary tests will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the healthcare authorities in this regard.
Is it possible to ship the eggs to my fertility centre?
Due to travel restrictions, at this time we do not ship Air or terrestrial “Lab to Lab”. However, we work with several specialised courier companies that allow us to send the eggs should the collaborating centre require them. Nevertheless, before proceeding with the shipment we review each case to ensure that the shipping can be completed and reduce the risk of any incidence.
Can I keep my batch stored at Ovobank until my assisted reproduction centre can receive it?
Yes, due to this situation many clinics and assisted reproduction centres are temporarily closed. However, Ovobank is available to receive requests from collaborating centres and patients to make during this situation and to delay the shipment until the receiving centre restart the normal activity.
Is there an additional cost to confirm the reservation until I can continue with my treatment?
No. Until the COVID-19 health alarm is resolved, the gametes reserved for our patients and collaborating centres can be stored in our laboratory at no additional cost. Once the travel connections between countries are re-established and the restrictions removed, we will ship to the destination centres as usual.
Can I cancel my request if I am finally unable to carry out my treatment due to the Coronavirus?
Yes, before sending your request to your centre, we will contact our collaborators to confirm that the treatments of your patients will continue, otherwise the request will be cancelled.
Is the storage of eggs/semen/embryos in Ovobank safe?
Yes. The correct storage of gametes and pre-embryos is totally guaranteed in our facilities, since there is a rigorous maintenance protocol for cell storage tanks to supply liquid nitrogen to our cryo-containers, supervised by our highly qualified embryologists and monitored at all times by temperature probes, thus ensuring that the optimal storage conditions are always maintained for these cells.
Is there a risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Ovobank’s laboratories?
As of today, there is no scientific evidence that the virus can be found in biological reproductive material (eggs, sperm, embryos) or in related biological fluids (follicular fluid, semen) or genital secretions (vaginal, uterine).
In addition, our staff is strictly monitored and makes use of all prevention measures. The laboratories are designed to guarantee the necessary positive pressure conditions to ensure that the room is pathogen-free and undergo the strictest quality, cleaning and disinfection controls.
On the other hand, the gametes are stored in special cryo-containers for the maintenance of cryo-preserved cells that keep them safe from possible virus contamination from outside.
At Ovobank we carefully follow the instructions of the healthcare authorities and the main fertility societies, in order to adapt our procedures and ensure safety at any time.
