What background checks are required for recruiting surrogate mothers in the United States?
1、 Background investigation objectives and principles
This report focuses on the core background investigation content that needs to be carried out during the recruitment process of surrogate mothers, aiming to ensure that surrogate candidates have basic conditions such as physical health, psychological stability, and suitable living environment through systematic screening, and provide guarantees for the smooth progress of the subsequent surrogate process. The investigation follows the three principles of comprehensiveness, objectivity, and privacy protection, with a focus on covering the four dimensions of health, economy, social relationships, and behavioral risks.
2、 Core investigation dimensions and implementation methods
（1） Health status screening
1. Basic medical assessment
O The candidate is required to provide a general physical examination report within the past six months, including blood routine examination, urine routine examination, liver function, kidney function, infectious disease screening (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc.) and diagnosis results of chronic diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension).
O Verify vaccination records (such as influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine) to ensure that the immune status meets pregnancy requirements.
2. Special examination for reproductive health
Entrust the cooperative reproductive medicine center to conduct uterine ultrasound examination, hormone level testing (such as AMH, FSH), and cervical smear screening to evaluate whether the uterine environment is suitable for embryo implantation and pregnancy.
Review past pregnancy history (such as spontaneous abortion, premature birth, complications, etc.) and prioritize candidates with successful pregnancy experiences and no serious obstetric complications.
（2） Psychological and Mental State Assessment
1. Standardized psychological assessment
Use tools such as MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) or BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) to screen candidates without severe anxiety, depression, or personality disorders.
Evaluate candidates' ability to cope with stress and their level of awareness of surrogacy risks through structured interviews.
2. Survey on the Social Support System
Interview the candidate's family members (spouse, parents) to confirm whether they understand and support the surrogacy decision, in order to avoid affecting pregnancy stability due to family conflicts.
（3） Economic and Life Stability Verification
1. Financial status review
Request to provide tax receipts, bank statements, and credit reports for the past 3 years, excluding candidates with high debt, credit defaults, or frequent unemployment records.
Confirm whether the candidate has a stable source of income (such as full-time work, spouse income) to avoid mid career withdrawal or behavioral risks due to financial pressure.
2. Residential environment assessment
Entrust a third-party organization to conduct on-site inspections of the living environment, confirm housing safety (no safety hazards, suitable for pregnant women to live in), surrounding community security (crime rate data), and transportation convenience.
Check for exposure to harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or potential risks of domestic violence, abuse, etc.
（4） Behavior and credit record screening
1. Criminal background investigation
Conduct nationwide criminal record searches through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) database or third-party agencies, with a focus on excluding charges related to violent crimes, sexual crimes, and drug abuse.
2. Social media and public record review
Monitor candidates' social media accounts (such as Facebook, Instagram) to identify whether there is extreme speech, bad habits, or high-risk behavior (such as frequent travel, participation in dangerous activities).
Check the public records of the court to confirm whether there are any unresolved civil disputes (such as custody disputes, debt lawsuits).
3、 Investigation process and quality control
1. Implement in stages
Preliminary screening: Collect basic health and economic information through online questionnaires, and filter out those who clearly do not meet the criteria.
In depth investigation: Conduct medical examinations, psychological assessments, and third-party background checks on candidates who have passed the initial screening.
Final evaluation: Based on comprehensive multidimensional data, the decision is made jointly by the medical team, psychological counselor, and legal advisor.
2. Privacy protection measures
Strictly comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) to ensure the confidentiality of candidate personal information.
Authorize only necessary personnel to access sensitive data, and the investigation results will only be used for surrogacy matching purposes.
4、 Conclusion
Through systematic screening of health, psychological, economic, and behavioral risks, the uncertainty in the surrogacy process can be significantly reduced, and the success rate can be improved. It is recommended to entrust a professional surrogacy agency or third-party investigation company to implement standardized procedures to ensure the comprehensiveness and compliance of the investigation.
