Test Details
Methodology
Macroscopic and microscopic semen examination
Result Turnaround Time
Within 1 day
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Use
Azoöspermia and <0.1x106 nonmotile sperm per mL (or <100,000 nonmotile sperm per mL) are reliable indicators of vasectomy success.
Incomplete ejaculation and/or incomplete collection of total ejaculate may cause false oligospermia (low sperm count) or false azoöspermia.
If >0.1x106 nonmotile sperm per mL (or >100,000 nonmotile sperm/mL) persist beyond six months after vasectomy, then trends of serial postvasectomy semen analyses and clinical judgment should be used to decide whether the vasectomy is a failure and whether repeat vasectomy should be considered.
Special Instructions
This test is not available at all locations and must be scheduled with the laboratory performing the test. Contact the laboratory prior to specimen collection. This test requires a freshly collected semen sample. If the sample is more than one hour old, please see Postvasectomy Sperm Evaluation, Qualitative [519020] for the presence or absence of sperm. This test does not include motility studies and can be conducted on any semen specimen that is submitted to LabCorp within 72 hours of collection.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Semen
Volume
Entire ejaculate
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Sterile screw-cap container
Collection Instructions
See Patient Instructions for Semen Collection.
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 1 hour; keep sample close to body (inside shirt or coat) to avoid temperature extremes during transport. (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference) |
Refrigerated | Unstable (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference) |
Frozen | Unstable (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference) |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Unstable (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference) |
Storage Instructions
Testing must begin within 60 minutes of specimen production. In the interim, the specimen should be kept at room temperature, but it is recommended that it be kept close to the body (inside a shirt or coat) to avoid temperature extremes during transport.
Patient Preparation
No special preparation. The American Urological Association recommends a waiting period of 8 to 16 weeks post vasectomy as the appropriate period for the first postvasectomy semen analysis.1
Causes for Rejection
Specimens older than one hour; specimens contaminated with spermicidal material
Footnotes
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 519013 | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | 4463-6 | 519016 | Volume | mL | 3160-9 |
| 519013 | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | 4463-6 | 519190 | Total Immotile Sperm | x10E6/mL | 34657-7 |
| 519013 | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | 4463-6 | 519191 | Total Motile Sperm | x10E6/mL | 42531-4 |
| Order Code | 519013 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | |||||
| Order Loinc | 4463-6 | |||||
| Result Code | 519016 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Volume | |||||
| UofM | mL | |||||
| Result LOINC | 3160-9 | |||||
| Order Code | 519013 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | |||||
| Order Loinc | 4463-6 | |||||
| Result Code | 519190 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Total Immotile Sperm | |||||
| UofM | x10E6/mL | |||||
| Result LOINC | 34657-7 | |||||
| Order Code | 519013 | |||||
| Order Code Name | Post VAS Semen Analysis, AUA | |||||
| Order Loinc | 4463-6 | |||||
| Result Code | 519191 | |||||
| Result Code Name | Total Motile Sperm | |||||
| UofM | x10E6/mL | |||||
| Result LOINC | 42531-4 |