Instructions/ FAQ

 

 

 

Hey!  Please take two more steps once you’ve successfully placed your order:

Please email us NOW at MACDnotary@gmail.com to confirm the correct NAME and ADDRESS you would like us to use for shipping your order(s).  Thank you!

Please you AND your donor read the instructions below. YOU are responsible for making sure your donor knows exactly what to do.

Donor Instructions

  • upon arrival of the Donor Home Delivery kit, store the vial(s) of Test Yolk Buffer and ice pack in the freezer
  • save the padded “Kangaroo Mailer” or aluminum pouches, and all materials for shipping to the Recipient
  • leave the syringe sealed for the Recipient – you will not need it
  • abstain from ejaculation for 2-4 days (but not longer) prior to the Recipient’s ovulation, if possible
  • When the Recipient calls/texts, and asks you to overnight the package:
    • thaw the Test Yolk Buffer until it’s room temperature (do not microwave, heat, etc.)
    • ejaculate into the plastic cup provided
    • add in all the Test Yolk Buffer and gently mix by moving cup in a circular motion
    • WARNING: only add the Test Yolk Buffer if it is fully thawed at room temperature
    • WARNING: do not use the Test Yolk Buffer if it is passed the expiration date on the label
    • Be sure to tighten the cap of the plastic cup so it does not leak!
    • put the cup, sealed with the sample inside, into the zip lock plastic bag and seal the bag closed
    • place sealed plastic zip lock bag with sealed cup and cold (refrigerated or frozen) ice pack inside the padded pouch, and seal it closed (see instruction #2 on pouch, if you have a Kangaroo Mailer)
    • If you have a Kangaroo Mailer, puncture the bag to inflate (see instruction #3 on Kangaroo Mailer)
    • If you have an aluminum pouches (instead of a kangaroo mailer), place the sealed plastic zip lock bag with sealed cup inside the aluminum pouch(es), and tape the frozen ice pack to the outside of the aluminum pouch(es), or put both aluminum pouch(es) and frozen ice pack(s) together in a medium sized baggie so they are snug together in transport.  This actually keeps the sample from being either too warm or too cold.
    • place the 5 cc syringe (unused, unopened), and the filled Kangaroo Mailer or aluminum pouch with ice pack inside a (FedEx Pak) overnight envelope/bag, and seal the (FedEx Pak) overnight envelope/bag
    • ship to the recipient for overnight delivery (FedEx, UPS, etc.)

Recipient Instructions

  • insemination should take place upon arrival of your MACD kit
  • if immediate insemination is not possible, store the cup in the refrigerator for insemination later that SAME day.  *Do not store in the freezer
  • draw up the yellow mixture from the plastic cup with the 5 cc syringe
  • lay down with hips elevated on a pillow and insert the 5 cc syringe into the vagina
  • deposit contents as high in the vagina as possible
  • WARNING: DO NOT try to put the semen and preservative into your uterus.  MACD kits are intended for vaginal inseminations ONLY.  Intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) should be done by appropriately licensed and trained health professionals (midwives, nurse practitioners, physicians)
  • remain lying down with hips elevated on a pillow for at least one hour
 
Insulated padded Mailer pouch and cold pack
 
Test Yolk Buffer –
refrigeration medium
 
plastic cup
 
5 cc syringe
(donor will not need, save for recipient)
 
small plastic bag

MACD does not prevent the transmission of disease.

 

 

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take for the frozen test yolk buffer (TYB) to thaw from frozen to room temperature?  About 15-30 minutes.
  • The test yolk buffer and ice pack arrived to my donor completely thawed, is my kit still usable?  Yes, test yolk buffer refrigeration medium can be completely thawed and refrozen at least once without issue.  We expect it to thaw en route to your donor; your Donor should pop it (and the ice pack) back in the freezer as soon as it arrives.
  • The kit my donor overnighted me arrived, and the sample was room temperature — will it still work?  Yes, sperm do best at a temperature between 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees F) and just under body temperature, not too hot, not too cold.
  • Does test yolk buffer contain egg yolk?  Yes, each vial contains 20% egg yolk – from USDA certified Specific Pathogen Free (Virus Free) laying flocks, heat inactivated at 56° C for 30 minutes.  Do not use if you are allergic to egg yolk.
  • Does test yolk buffer contain an antibiotic?  Yes, 10µg/mL Gentamicin Sulfate.  If you are allergic to similar antibiotics such as amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin, paromomycin, streptomycin, or tobramycin, you may also be allergic to gentamicin.
  • How long does the test yolk buffer last, does it expire?  If kept in the freezer, test yolk buffer will last until the expiration date on the vial.  We buy new batches often, so expect your kit to contain a TYB that will last a few to several months.  Email us if you would like to know the exact expiration date on the TYB you’ll be receiving.
  • How do I know this really works, are there studies?  Unfortunately, as of yet there is not enough interest in the scientific community to conduct evidence-based studies on this method of family building.  What we know is that it works all the time!  Please feel free to shoot us an email if it works for you and include a testimonial if you’d like.
  • You send kits to donors using overnight delivery, what time should my donor expect the kit to arrive?  By 8pm.  If you’d like to pay extra to have it arrive earlier in the day, we can try and arrange this.  This is not always possible, especially at rural addresses.
  • My donor lives in an apartment building; will the delivery driver leave the package in the lobby?  It is up to the delivery driver’s discretion whether or not they leave a package in an apartment lobby, on an open porch, etc.  If it doesn’t seem secure to do so, they will leave a note for the donor with instructions on how to pick up the package at a nearby FedEx location.  This can result in the package not being available until the next day.  If we receive a FedEx proof-of-delivery, we are not responsible for lost packages.
  • Do you require a signature for delivery?  No, but if you’d like us to require a signature, please let us know when you place your order.  We do not recommend this generally, since if no one is home to sign for it, this can also cause delivery delays.
  • My donor lives outside the United States, can you ship internationally?  We do not ship internationally, but we are happy to ship to you, and you can then ship the kit to your donor yourself.  Your goal would be to get it there as quickly as possible (i.e. overnight shipping) and to keep the vial from getting hot in the summer months (past customers have used extra ice packs or extra insulation material that they acquired on their own.)
  • I mistakenly ordered a kit or changed my mind; do you offer refunds?  We charge a $30 processing fee for refunds, so you will get your money back, minus $30.  Make your orders carefully!
  • I want to do an intrauterine insemination (IUI) with the sample that my donor ships to me, is this safe?  Yes, a trained healthcare professional (midwife, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, doctor) can “wash” or spin the sample as they normally would to prepare it for an IUI.
  • My midwife would like to offer me an IUI but isn’t yet trained to wash samples and/or perform IUIs.  Is there a place you recommend she seek out training?  Have your midwife email us and we can connect her with virtual IUI classes/training.