False positives on CAPTIA - how to do known donation?

[krismonkey]

Hi Guys,

I really really want to donate. I had an RPR come back positive with one clinic, but after extensive testing with my doctor (including another RPR which was neg) it was determined to be false positive. I went to another clinic, and now I have tested positive on CAPTIA t. pallidum IGG. I am wondering if this is what the supposed RPR was before as well, actually CAPTIA. Anyways, I saw a thread here in the past with 2 members with the same situation who were able to do known donation by having recipient sign a waiver saying they are aware of the circumstance. So, I would like to pursue known donation, because I have never had syphilis and am certain I do not currently (my doctor ran literally every test she could, all were fine).

Can someone help me out and suggest where I might go to find a known donor match??

[Juliana]

I've done many known donations but they were all through agencies.

You can use the classified ads here. I never did it because my one attempt brought out too many crazies. But, I know Chinerd and Cooliz had a lot of luck, so hopefully they'll pipe in.

Good luck!

[krismonkey]

So, just to update - my doctor confirmed both tests with positives were the FDA Captia test. She told me it is so unreliable that the hospital they are affiliated with decided to discontinue use of it as screening, because they get so many false positives with CAPTIA IGG. RPR, TPPA and FTA-ABS were negative for me.

Still trying to find agencies or ways to do a known donation this year though. Otherwise I have to wait a full year and try again, hoping they are using something more reliable by then or that I don't get another screwy result.

[krismonkey]

Quick followup - it was the same test both times, CAPTIA IGG, and my doctor and their affiliated hospital discontinued use this year due to high number of false positives. But apparently this is what the FDA guidelines say to use. Bummer.

[cooliz15]

Hey and welcome! Only one of my donations was through an agency, the rest of the couples I found through this site. You do have to weed out all the crazies and use your gut feeling, but once you do, you may be able to find a great couple. All of my donations have been known....I wouldn't have it any other way! Good luck to you!

[Chinerd]

Almost no clinics in the US will accept an egg donor who has had a false positive syphilis test. There are a few less reputable clinics who will if you are retested by a state health dept and your IPs sign waivers.

This is because clinics are audited by the FDA each year and so they have blanket rules that say they won't allow donors who have had positives, even if they have proved to be false.

This is something many people are currently trying to change as FDA regulations are not this harsh--but clinics don't want to deal with the hassle.

So even with a known donation it's unlikely you will be able to donate--I was only able to because I had my false positive in the middle of a cycle and the clinic made an exception. I will not be able to donate again. I had a match again before I knew this was the case and my cycle was cancelled as the clinic refused to accept me as a donor even though I've never had syphilis, was retested by a state health dept, and have a letter from an infectious disease specialist explaining my case.

[bunears]

Almost no clinics in the US will accept an egg donor who has had a false positive syphilis test. There are a few less reputable clinics who will if you are retested by a state health dept and your IPs sign waivers.

This is because clinics are audited by the FDA each year and so they have blanket rules that say they won't allow donors who have had positives, even if they have proved to be false.

This is something many people are currently trying to change as FDA regulations are not this harsh--but clinics don't want to deal with the hassle.

So even with a known donation it's unlikely you will be able to donate--I was only able to because I had my false positive in the middle of a cycle and the clinic made an exception. I will not be able to donate again. I had a match again before I knew this was the case and my cycle was cancelled as the clinic refused to accept me as a donor even though I've never had syphilis, was retested by a state health dept, and have a letter from an infectious disease specialist explaining my case.

Would it be possible to be tested through another FDA approved lab and be tested negative for it and it to cancel out that one?

I just got a result from the FDA test and it was abnormal (positive) and honestly, I am shocked.

I got tested through my primary care provider and waiting for results.

I was asked by the IPs to get tested through that company again - but I am having a hard time trusting LabCorp now and their testing.