UK DonorLink matches ten pairs of biological half-siblings

A year after its launch, UK Donorlink, a voluntary register that enables people conceived in the UK using donated eggs, sperm or embryos to contact their donors and biological half-siblings, has reported successful matches of ten adults in their 40s and 50s with their half-siblings. The registry, funded by the Department of Health (DH), was launched in April 2004, and can be used by anyone over the age of 18. It offers genetic testing to match offspring with donors, and other biologically related offspring who are also registered with the service.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 1990 requires that all donor-conceived births are registered. Since the HFE Act was passed, about 25,000 people have been born in the UK following the use of donated embryos or gametes. An estimated 12,000 people were conceived using donor egg or sperm before then. The law does not allow children conceived using donor sperm or eggs before 1 April 2005 to discover the identity of the donors, but only to find out small amounts of non-identifying information about the donor when they reach the age of 18.

The UK DonorLink register was created following campaigns by donor-conceived people asking to be able to find out more about their biological origins. For the 12,000 people born using donor conception before the HFE Act was passed, the register is the only way of tracing their biological relatives. People can provide personal details and DNA samples and, if a match is found with someone else on the register, they will be put in touch. If the pilot is proved to be successful, it may be extended to include those offspring born after the 1991 cut-off date. About a third of the people currently registered with the service are donors.

In January 2004, Melanie Johnson MP, the then public health minister, announced that the DH had decided that people who donate eggs, sperm or embryos in the UK were to lose their right to anonymity. The decision followed a review of the law and consultation with the public and with clinics. The change to the law came into effect from 1 April 2005. This means that the first time people will be able to receive identifying information about donors is in 2023. But the changed law will not operate retrospectively, meaning that some people will still have unknown donors.

On announcing the ten half-sibling matches, Lyndsey Marshall, project manager of UK DonorLink, encouraged more donors and their offspring to register. 'We want more people to register with us so more people have a chance to find out information about their genetic relatives', she said. 'Many donors would like to know the outcome of their donation, whilst donor-conceived adults often wish to know more about their genetic background', she added. She continued: 'By gaining more information about themselves it is hoped that many more people will be able to lead a much fuller and emotionally secure life'.