You do not need to live near a milk bank to receive donor milk. A ll donor mothers are carefully screened. They must be non-smokers, taking no medications, in good health and have breastmilk in excess of their own babies needs. In addition, they must have negative blood tests for Hepatitus B and C, HIV 1 and 2, and HTLV 1 and 2. Donors must receive physicians consent to donate, and must also provide evidence of immunity to rubella, a negative syphilis test and provide their TB and herpes history.
Donors receive detailed instructions in the hygenic collection and handling of milk.
Once the donor milk arrives at the milk bank, it is pasteurized. The pasteurization process destroys both CMV and HIV viruses while retaining most of the nutritional and allergy protection benefits. After pasteurization the milk is tested for bacteria. Other milk banks may charge somewhat different fees. Donor milk from a milk bank is covered by some medical insurance policies.