Semen Analysis
Continuing Education Credits
This course details all the steps that are necessary to ensure an accurate sperm count. Many illustrations and descriptions are provided to acquaint you with normal and abnormal morphology. This course is an excellent source of continuing education for medical technologists and technicians. It is also appropriate for training laboratory personnel, cross training, and clinical laboratory science students.
Objectives
- Identify the preanalytic procedures that must be followed to ensure reliable semen analysis results.
- List the requirements for collection, transport, and accession of a specimen for semen analysis.
- Identify the characteristics of semen that should be noted during the macroscopic examination of the sample.
- Explain how to perform a sperm count.
- Discuss the method for determining and reporting sperm motility according to the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
- Identify sperm morphologies according to current WHO guidelines.
Course Outline
- Introduction to Semen Analysis
- Composition of Semen
- Purpose of Semen Analysis
- Limits of Semen Analysis
- Safety Precautions
- Which of the following statements regarding semen analysis is true?
- Specimen Collection, Transportation, and Accessioning
- Specimen Identification
- Collection
- Collection, continued
- Documenting Collection Information
- True or False: Condoms are a good way to collect semen specimens for fertility analyses.
- Which of the following statements is true for semen specimen collection and transport?
- Macroscopic Examination of Semen
- Beginning the Analysis
- Liquefaction
- Appearance of Semen
- Volume
- Viscosity
- pH
- Which of the following represents the lower reference limit for semen volume?
- True or False: Liquefaction of a semen specimen always occurs immediately after ejaculation.
- Which of the following statements is true regarding the normal viscosity of semen?
- Initial Microscopic Examination and Assessment of Sperm Motility
- Initial Microscopic Examination of Semen
- Initial Microscopic Examination of Semen, continued
- Motility: Standardization of Assessment Method
- Assessing Motility
- Assessing Motility: Example of Non-progressive Motility
- Wet Mount Assessment of Sperm Motility
- Automated Procedures
- Viability
- Sperm Count
- Sperm Concentration and Sperm Count
- Sperm Counting Methods
- Improved Neubauer Hemocytometer
- Diluting a Specimen for Counting on a Hemocytometer
- Loading the Hemocytometer and Performing the Count
- Criteria for Sperm Counts Using a Hemocytometer
- Other Counting Chambers
- Assessment of Post-Vasectomy and Azoospermic Specimens
- What is the recommended MINIMUM number of spermatozoa that should be counted on each side of the hemocytometer when a manual sperm count is performed using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer?
- True or False: A sperm concentration of 25 × 106 spermatozoa/mL would be considered an abnormally low concentration, according to the WHO 6th edition.
- Non-Sperm Cells in Semen
- Other Cells in Semen: Epithelial cells
- Other Cells in Semen: Round Cells and Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
- Other Cells in Semen: Round Cells and RBCs, continued
- Round Cells in Semen
- True or False: The image represents a microscopic field from a wet mount of a semen sample (100× magnification). Round cells are present in this microscopic field.
- Morphology of Sperm
- Morphology of Sperm
- Preparing Semen Smears for Evaluation of Sperm Morphology
- Evaluating Sperm Morphology
- Abnormal Forms
- Abnormal Heads
- Abnormal Tails
- Normal Head Shape
- Sperm with Enlarged Head and Split Tail
- Double-Headed Sperm
- Pinhead
- Two Abnormalities
- Tapered Head
- Constricted Head
- True or False: The sperm indicated by the arrow on this slide is normal.
- Why would this sperm be classified as abnormal?
- True or False: The sperm indicated by the arrow is abnormal.
- Reference Values and Course References
- Summary: Reference Values
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Clinical laboratory science students, and medical technologists and technicians seeking review, cross training, or continuing education opportunities. It is also appropriate for medical students and pathology residents.
Author information: Judy Stern, PhD is a Professor of Pathology, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Director, Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Stern holds a PhD from the University of Tennessee. She has authored and co-authored multiple publications in the field of Reproductive Technology.
Reviewer information:
Barbara Cebulski, MS, MLS(ASCP) has over 40 years of experience in the medical laboratory profession as a technologist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. She was an Inspection and Technical Specialist for nine years with the College of American Pathologists in the Laboratory Accreditation Program and, until her retirement in 2015, was Program Director for MediaLab, Inc. Barbara holds a Masters in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University.
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM
received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory
Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical
Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the
ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University
for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education
Developer at MediaLab. His areas of expertise and professional passions include
clinical hematology and interprofessional education.