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HelpTest Code FER Semen Analysis, Semen
Reporting Name
Semen AnalysisUseful For
Determining male fertility status
Method Name
Manual
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
SemenOrdering Guidance
This test should not be used to check patient's sterility following a vasectomy. For such cases, order POSV / Post Vasectomy Check, Semen.
Semen analysis specimens submitted to Mayo Clinic Laboratories are not acceptable for fructose testing due to the use of dilution media. For specimen requirements for fructose testing in azoospermia patients, see FROS2 / Fructose, Qualitative, Semen.
Submit separate specimen to rule-out ejaculatory duct blockage. Positive result indicates no blockage.
Shipping Instructions
Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection. Send specimen Monday through Thursday only and not the day before a holiday. If holiday falls on a Saturday, holiday will be observed on the preceding Friday. Sunday holidays are observed on the following Monday. Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as possible. Laboratory does not perform testing on weekends.
Necessary Information
Include the following information:
-Semen volume (required)
-Viscosity
-pH
-Appearance (color)
-Number of days of sexual abstinence
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: Patient should have 2 to 7 days of sexual abstinence at the time of semen collection for accurate results.
Supplies: Semen Analysis Kit - Dilution Media (T178)
Specimen Volume: Total ejaculate
Collection Instructions:
See complete Semen Collection instructions included with the kit.
1. Prior to use, allow dilution medium to warm to room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes.
2. Allow semen to liquefy at room temperature for up to 30 minutes.
3. Use sterile volumetric pipet or tube for volume measurement.
4. Pour liquefied semen into 50-mL dilution medium container within 60 minutes of semen collection time, cap tightly, but do not overtighten, and gently mix.
Note: Proper temperature maintenance of specimen throughout processing and shipping is critical. All materials the specimen is exposed to should be at room temperature (20-28° C).
Specimen Minimum Volume
See Specimen Required
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semen | Ambient | ||
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Reference Values
Appearance: Normal
Volume: ≥1.5 mL
pH: ≥7.2
Motile/mL: ≥6.0 x 10(6)
Sperm/mL: ≥15.0 x 10(6)
Motility: ≥40%
Grade: ≥2.5
Note: Multiple laboratory studies have indicated that semen parameters for motility and grade, on average, retain 80% of original parameters when our shipping method is used for transport. Using these averages, samples with 32% to 39% motility and grade of 2 may be in the normal range if testing was performed shortly after collection. Therefore, these borderline patients may need to collect another sample at a local fertility center to verify fertility status.
Motile/ejaculate: ≥9.0 x 10(6)
Viscosity: ≥3.0
Agglutination: ≥3.0
Supravital: ≥58% live
Fructose: Positive
Note: Fructose testing cannot be performed on semen analysis specimens shipped through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
Submit separate specimen to rule out ejaculatory duct blockage. Positive result indicates no blockage.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
CPT Code Information
89310
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| FER | Semen Analysis | 54231-6 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| ABSTN | Abstinence | 10587-4 |
| CLST1 | Collection Site | 56816-2 |
| TY | Study Type | 54453-6 |
| CNTN | Container Type | 74384-9 |
| APP3 | Appearance | 13359-5 |
| VL53 | Semen Volume | 3160-9 |
| PH1 | pH | 2752-4 |
| MOTML | Motile/mL | 42531-4 |
| SPML | Sperm/mL | 9780-8 |
| MOTY | Motility | 6800-7 |
| GR2 | Grade | 13942-8 |
| MOTEJ | Motile/Ejaculate | 6800-7 |
| VISC | Viscosity | 32789-0 |
| AGGLU | Agglutination | 33217-1 |
| STAIN | Supravital Stain | 101570-0 |
| FRCT | Fructose | 13943-6 |
| CMT45 | Comment | 48767-8 |
Clinical Information
Semen is composed of spermatozoa suspended in seminal fluid (plasma). The function of the seminal fluid is to provide nutrition and volume for conveying the spermatozoa to the endocervical mucus.
Male infertility can be affected by a number of causes. Chief among these is a decrease in the number of viable sperm. Other causes include sperm with abnormal morphology and abnormalities of the seminal fluid.
Interpretation
Semen specimens can vary widely in the same man from specimen to specimen. Semen parameters falling outside of the normal ranges do not preclude fertility for that individual. Multiple samples may need to be analyzed prior to establishing patient's fertility status.
Cautions
No significant cautionary statements
Method Description
The sample is measured for volume and analyzed microscopically to determine the number of sperm present, the number of moving or motile sperm, and the properties of the sperm motility.(WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human semen. 6th ed. World Health Organization; 2021)