Art Bank (Assisted Reproductive Technology Bank)

What is an ART Bank?

An Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bank, according to ART Law 2021, is an organization that collects, stores, and supplies gametes to ART clinics or their patients. The latest gazette, published on June 7, 2022, now limits ART banks to handling only donated gametes and does not include patient gametes, as described in ART Law 2021.

Rule on ART banks According to the newly issued ART Law 2021

The ART Act 2021 provides a legal framework for regulating and supervising ART banks in the country. The Act establishes clear rules and guidelines for their establishment and operation. All ART banks must register with the National Registry of ART Banks (NRAB) and get a license from the National ART Authority (NAA) before they can start operating.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ART banks must collect, monitor, and register both sperm and egg donors. They also need to keep accurate records of all donors and report any changes to the National Registry.

ART banks must follow strict quality standards. They need to meet the requirements set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the NAA. They should have adequate facilities, equipment, and trained staff to ensure safety and quality in their services.

The Act also bans certain practices, like commercial surrogacy, sex selection, and using donor eggs or sperm without the donor’s consent. It limits how many embryos can be transferred during IVF procedures.

What does an ART Bank do?

An ART Bank has specific duties, defined by ART LAW 2021.

• Shall only be responsible for Screening, collection, and registration of Semen Donor & egg donors as well as cryopreservation of sperm.
• Shall be responsible for screening the gamete donors for their eligibility to donate. The eligible criteria are
  • Age Limits:
    • Male Donor/Semen Donor: 21 – 55 years of age
    • Female Donor/Egg Donor: 23 – 35 years of age
  • Donors must test negative for four diseases from the list given below:
    • HIV
    • HbSAg
    • VDRL
    • HCV
• No sperm or oocyte obtained from a donor should be issued to more than one couple.
• Donor information will remain confidential. Treatment details will only be shared with the National Registry or if required by a court order.
• Every bank must have a grievance cell to handle complaints.
• The ART Bank will regularly share relevant information with the National Registry.
  • Enrolment of gamete donors
  • Procedure being undertaken
  • Within one month of enrolling a Gamete Donor, submit the information to the National Registry.
• The ART Bank must freeze any human gametes based on specific instructions and written consent from everyone using ART Bank services.
• The ART Bank must keep a detailed record of all donor eggs or sperm, whether used or unused, that have been screened and supplied.
• The ART Bank shall ensure that all the above-said records are maintained for at least 10 years, and upon expiry, the records shall be transferred to the central database of the National Registry.
• Donor gametes may be cryopreserved for a maximum of 10 years, and upon termination of the duration, the gametes shall be permitted to degrade or be donated to a research establishment with the donor’s approval.
• The ART clinics and banks are required to collect signed consents from the patient to initiate the Procedure for semen and embryos. Once again, the government has launched the specified forms from collection to retrieval and the concerned ART clinics need to get them filled before and keep them well.
• The ministry has introduced a new rule for egg donors. ART banks must ensure that the couple buys health insurance for the donor for at least one year. The insurance must come from a company or agent recognized by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority. The coverage needs to be enough to cover any expenses that might come up during complications while retrieving the eggs. In addition, the couple is required to give an affidavit that should be sworn before a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate as a guarantee.

Why do we require ART Banks?

• ART Banks provide valuable support to couples who cannot have children using their own eggs or sperm, either because they have none or because their eggs or sperm are not healthy.
• ART Banks make sure that the donors they choose are free from diseases that can be passed on.
• They also help prevent the abuse or overuse of one donor’s eggs or sperm for multiple couples.
• It also helps in checking overexploitation of oocyte donors as only one donation at a time is allowed to donors by rigorous checking and recording the details maintained by the National Registry.

Why choose Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center for ART Bank in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center provides the Best ART Bank Services in Lucknow, India with fully compliant, ethical, and affordable donor gamete solutions as per the ART Act 2021. Our experienced fertility specialists, embryologists, and cryopreservation experts ensure safe collection, advanced screening, and secure storage of donor sperm and donor eggs. We follow strict guidelines, maintain complete donor confidentiality, and use state-of-the-art freezing technology for maximum safety and viability. With transparent documentation, rigorous disease screening, and budget-friendly ART Bank packages, Tender Palm IVF is a trusted choice in Lucknow for high-quality donor gametes and embryo preservation.

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