Ovarian Tissue Storage with ReproTech, Ltd.

ReproTech, Ltd. (RTL) has been providing long-term off-site reproductive tissue storage since 1990.  In fact, RTL was founded for this purpose and still today remains our main focus.  RTL now provides safe and secure long-term reproductive tissue storage for patients from leading clinics all across the nation.  Our cryo-storage facilities in Florida, Minnesota and Nevada are monitored 24/7 by state-of-the-art Rees monitoring systems which record temperature changes as small as 0.01 degree Celsius.  Additionally, all tanks are manually monitored on a weekly basis by our experienced personnel, our facilities are under 24-hour security and surveillance, each facility has on-site back-up bulk nitrogen storage, and all electronic data is backed up daily with data backup stored offsite.  When long-term storage of your ovarian tissue is needed, trust your future to the leader.

Ovarian Tissue Freezing Advancements
The first births (sheep) from ovarian tissue freezing and subsequent thawing and transplant of the tissue back to the individual occurred more than ten years ago, however, improvements in technology have been slow in coming due to many factors.  Since ovarian tissue freezing is still considered an experimental procedure by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, it is generally only offered in a research setting with IRB oversight.   ReproTech works with a number of facilities which provide ovarian tissue freezing as part of our Fertility Preservation Network.  These clinics are providing the service on a case by case basis and are available to assist patients needing this service.  

ReproTech is also working with the National Physicians Cooperative of the Oncofertility Consortium, a multi-site NIH grant funded study looking at new options for ovarian tissue cryopreservation and use. ReproTech will be providing the cryostorage services for this ground breaking research.  Cancer patients who are participants in the ovarian tissue program will have an ovary surgically removed and cryopreserved before they begin treatment. 20 percent of the ovarian tissue will be used for research and 80 percent for the woman to use in the future. Eventually, the goal is to thaw the tissue when the woman is ready to have children and mature the follicles in a special gel made from brown algae that supports its three-dimensional development. The mature eggs then would be fertilized and implanted into the woman. The laparoscopic removal of an ovary does not require a significant delay in cancer treatment beyond one to two days of recovery. Additionally, infants as young as 6 months could undergo this procedure since neither reaching puberty nor fertilization are required.  

Testing Requirements
Standard storage fees are assessed when the client depositor has completed and is non-reactive for at least Anti-HIV 1&2 (AIDS) testing.  Ovarian Tissue specimens will be accepted without Anti-HIV 1&2 (AIDS) or reactive testing at a higher storage fee.

We will accept ovarian tissue from patients who have tested reactive for one or more of the following: Anti-HIV 1&2, HCV, HTLV I&II, and HBsAg.

Standards and/or Regulations require that patients complete the following serology/virology testing prior to release of ovarian tissue from RTL for transfer back to patient’s clinic for his use: HBsAg, and Anti-HCV, in addition to Anti-HIV 1&2.

Potentially Infectious
RTL provides ovarian tissue storage services for patients who have tested reactive for a sexually transmitted disease, such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HTLV I&II. In addition, we supply a shipping tank into which these cryopreserved tissues are immediately transferred and shipped to RTL for storage. We have separate shipping tanks, storage tanks and fee schedule for potentially infectious tissue.


Forms Requirement
Contact RTL to obtain copies of the following forms to open an account and to authorize the transfer of your ovarian tissue.

1. Registration - This form gives us information about the patients and identifies the method of payment of fees.

2. Medical History - This form gives us information on the patient’s medical history and the reason for ovarian tissue cryobanking.

3. Oocyte\Ovarian Tissue Cryostorage Agreement - This form defines the terms and conditions of storage of cryopreserved ovarian tissue and the conditions for release of ovarian tissue from storage. 

4. Specimen Transfer To RTL and Medical Data Release Authorization- This form obtains the patient's consent for the release of medical data, as well as the consent to transfer the ovarian tissue to RTL for storage.

5. Addendum to Oocyte\Ovarian Tissue Cryostorage Agreement - This form is necessary only for patients who have tested reactive for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HTLV I&II, or other sexually transmitted diseases. This form defines additional terms and conditions of ovarian tissue storage and shipping that apply to potentially infectious specimens.