VANCOUVER – A B.C. fertility clinic that stores sperm — including samples from 415 men who are part of a class-action lawsuit — has been given permission to dispose of the specimens.

The clinic at the BC Women’s Centre for Reproductive Health has been storing the samples since 2010 when legal action was taken after a power failure destroyed the sperm at the University of B.C.

The clinic also stores sperm and embryo samples for 847 others people, but it applied for a B.C. Supreme Court order to dispose of all specimens because it has closed and doesn’t have the money to the maintain storage.

A court decision posted online Wednesday says the clinic has tried to contact all clients to see whether they want their specimens destroyed or transferred, but many have not responded.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Butler has ordered the clinic to advertise that clients have until Dec. 24 to reveal their wishes.

If they don’t get back to the clinic by then, it can apply for a final order permitting destruction of the samples.