Donor 7069, alias ‘Kjeld’, started donating at the Copenhagen branch of the European Sperm Bank (ESB) as a student in 2005, after passing all medical tests. The TP53 genetic mutation, present in only a small percentage of his sperm cells, could not be detected at the time. According to the ESB, "in such cases the donor himself and his family members are not ill, and a mutation of this type is not detected preventively by genetic screening".

Between 2006 and 2023, ‘Kjeld’ gametes were sold by the European Sperm Bank (ESB) to 67 clinics in 14 countries. Countries have different national regulations limiting the total number of children per single donor, but there is no international regulation applicable to the worldwide total of children. 

Using data from freedom of information requests to national health authorities and interviews with doctors, parents and clinics our journalists can now confirm this donor's sperm was used to conceive at least 197 children.