About the Live:On Kit
What is the Live:On kit and how does it work?
CLI has developed a unique collection and preservation kit to make it possible for men to send their specimen from anywhere in the continental United States. Each Live:On kit comes complete with the necessary forms, detailed instructions, transport solution and return shipping information. The solution is added to the specimen after collection. It stabilizes sperm and serves to maintain its quality during transit. Overnight delivery assures that CLI receives and processes the semen specimen within 24 hours.
Is banking at an on-site clinic better than by mail?
CLI cannot guarantee the quality of the specimen, which depends on many factors including the sample produced and transit. Due to these factors, banking on site at a clinic might produce a higher quality specimen than banking by mail. However, using Live:On is an effective alternative to sperm banking on site and eliminates any treatment delay for you. In addition, it makes it easy to coordinate with your therapy and allows you the privacy of collecting the specimen in a place where you feel comfortable.
How and when do I collect my specimen?
Manual stimulation (masturbation) is the acceptable method of obtaining the specimen. In order to obtain the best specimen for freezing, it is recommended that you abstain from any ejaculation for at least 48 hours. It is also important that you do not abstain for more than 5 days. If you ejaculate too frequently or have too much time between ejaculations, your sperm quality may drop. The time between collection and freezing at CLI is also critical. You should arrange to collect the specimen as close as possible to the time of return shipment. More detailed information is in the enclosed instructions sheet.
How do I ship the kit?
The return shipment should be made using the provided pre-paid FedEx Priority Overnight service label. You must take the kit to FedEx between Monday and Thursday. CLI is not open to receive shipments on Saturday or Sunday and you should contact CLI for the holiday schedule. Specimens must be collected the same day that they are shipped. More detailed information is in the enclosed instructions sheet.
How is payment collected and how much does it cost?
Payment is required when the specimen is received by CLI for processing. The cost of the Live:On kit includes shipping, processing, and storage. It is critical that you provide payment information with the kit. CLI will not process or store specimens if payment is not received.
The total cost of the kit is $625. This fee includes the following:
- $65 for the kit and shipping,
- $280 for processing, analysis, and freezing
- $280 for storage for one year.*
The cost for additional kits shipped within 30 days is $345. This price also includes the kit, shipping, processing, analysis, freezing and one year of storage.
*Monthly storage plans and discount long term storage plans are also available for the client's selection.
For details on cost and payment options, contact CLI at (800) 466-2796. Financial assistance programs to help with the costs of sperm banking may also be available.
What is infectious disease screening and why is it required to bank my sperm?
Clients who bank sperm for future use are required by regulatory agencies to have testing for infectious and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). In strict compliance with industry standards, separate biohazardous storage is maintained for specimens that have tested positive for STDs.
Testing includes ALL of the following:
- HIV 1 & 2 (AIDS) Antibody
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
- Hepatitis C Viral Antibody
What does CLI do once it receives my specimen?
Upon receiving your shipment and before freezing your specimen, CLI will do a quality analysis. This analysis will determine the number of sperm, as well as the motility (activity) and morphology (shape) of the sperm. Based on the information from the analysis, CLI will divide the specimen into vials to be used later to attempt pregnancy. CLI will only store specimens that show viable sperm cells.
Additionally, CLI freezes a small sample of your specimen separate from the rest and thaws it the next business day. On this small sample, they perform a post-thaw analysis to determine how well your specimen survives the freezing process.
With current reproductive technology, very few sperm are needed to produce a successful pregnancy. Based on the analysis results of the first sample, you may choose to bank additional deposits. You may contact CLI at (800) 466-2796 for lab results the next business day after your specimen arrival.
How is my specimen stored?
CLI provides effective storage and maintenance of specimens until you decide to use them for achieving pregnancy or terminate the storage agreement. Storage tanks are inspected daily to replenish liquid nitrogen. While the entire system operates independently of electricity, the premises and tanks are constantly monitored to assure proper storage conditions as well as overall building security. Staff is on call 24 hours each day. If you plan to store your sperm for many years, contact CLI to find out about long term, pre-paid storage. This can help to reduce the storage costs over an extended period of time.
How do I use my banked sperm after treatment?
When you are ready to use your frozen specimens, you can request to have them shipped to your physician, usually a reproductive endocrinologist. Release forms are required for shipping of specimens. You should contact CLI with at least two weeks notice to ensure all processes are in place for the shipping and protection of your vials. There is a small fee for release and shipping using specially designed transport canisters to preserve the specimen's frozen state. CLI's policy requires payment at the time of service.
