Following birth of baby, parents allege that a Florida IVF clinic used the wrong sperm

A Florida couple is suing a fertility clinic after genetic analyses revealed that their daughter is not biologically related to her father.

Natalie and Joshua Strong allege that Brown Fertility in Jacksonville, Florida, used the sperm of another man without their knowledge or consent during their IVF treatment. Routine newborn screening shortly after the birth of their daughter in June 2025 showed that the child had B-positive blood – while Natalie's blood type is O-negative, and Joshua's A-negative. Subsequent DNA testing showed that only Natalie was genetically related to the child.

'It took away the euphoria of having a baby,' said Natalie to the New York Post. It was my first child, I was in heaven. It was the best day of my life and then when that hit us, it took all the happiness away, which we should have had for a very long time.'

Joshua had previously undergone a vasectomy and required an invasive surgical procedure to retrieve sperm during the couple's IVF treatment. Brown Fertility was reportedly provided with four vials of his sperm to fertilise eggs belonging to Natalie.

The couple allege that an unidentified man's sperm was used instead. Their first embryo transfer ended in miscarriage in 2024, but the second led to the birth of their daughter. They believe the same unidentified man's sperm may have been used to create both embryos.

The Strongs also said they do not know what happened to Joshua's cryopreserved sperm, including whether it remains in storage, was discarded or was used to create embryos for another patient without their knowledge. 'We want to know what happened to his sperm. We want to make sure it was not used anywhere else,' said Natalie to the Daily Mail.

The couple's lawsuit – filed against Brown Fertility, its medical director Dr Samuel Brown and other defendants – seeks damages exceeding US $50,000 and a jury trial. The lawsuit states that 'despite irrefutable DNA evidence, Brown Fertility and Dr Brown have refused to admit what they did, refused to account for Joshua's missing sperm, and refused to take responsibility.'

Brown Fertility has denied the allegations and said the matter is being evaluated and litigated.

This case follows an IVF mix-up case in Florida earlier this year, which resulted in a woman giving birth to a baby who was neither genetically related to her nor her husband (see BioNews 1324). The child's genetic parents were later identified, with both couples subsequently agreeing that the birth parents should continue raising the child (see BioNews 1344).

Similarly, in July a UK-based couple were forced to pursue adoption of their twins, after discovering that an overseas fertility clinic used donor sperm instead of the intended father's sperm during surrogacy treatment (see BioNews 1348).