why donor milk has a processing fee
The milk is donated. The safety process is what the fee supports.
Milk donors give their milk without compensation. The processing fee helps offset the screening, testing, processing, supplies, storage, distribution, recordkeeping and compliance work required to provide pasteurized donor human milk to babies who need it.
what the fee supports
The safety work behind every bottle.
Donor screening & blood testing
Health and lifestyle screening, healthcare-provider verification, and serological testing are part of the donor-approval process.
Processing & pasteurization
Milk is received, tracked, pooled, bottled and Holder pasteurized under controlled food-safety procedures.
Microbiological testing
Each processed batch is cultured after pasteurization, with testing conducted by a third-party accredited laboratory before milk is dispensed.
Supplies, equipment & cold storage
Safe milk banking requires specialized supplies, maintained equipment, refrigeration and frozen storage.
Distribution
The fee helps offset the cold-chain handling and distribution needed to move milk safely to hospitals and families.
Traceability & compliance
Every ounce is documented and tracked, with recordkeeping, quality assurance, audits and other compliance activities built into the process.
The milk is donated. The fee protects its safety. And the Medical Relief Fund helps ensure access when cost becomes a barrier.
Why does donor milk need so much testing?
Donor milk is used for medically fragile infants, often preterm and very low birthweight babies that can tolerate no risk. To protect them, The Milk Bank follows strict safety and accreditation standards established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and informed by the FDA, CDC, and blood banking industry. Every batch is pasteurized and microbiologically tested before it ever reaches a baby in need.
when cost is a barrier
The Medical Relief Fund is here to help.
Families with a medical need for donor milk may qualify for free or reduced-cost milk through The Milk Bank's Medical Relief Fund. In 2025, the fund helped provide 18,528 ounces of donor milk.
18,528 ounces
provided through the Medical Relief Fund in 2025
questions?
A real person can walk you through the options.
If you are receiving milk for your baby, our outpatient team can explain the process, the fee, pickup or shipping, and financial assistance.