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: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT 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.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer information: Judi Bennett, BSM, MLS, is an Education Developer with MediaLab by Vastian, bringing over 30 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist. Before joining MediaLab in 2010, she held key leadership roles, including Clinical Laboratory Manager, Microbiology Supervisor, and Senior Systems Analyst at Gwinnett Health System in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her extensive knowledge of laboratory operations, combined with a strong commitment to healthcare quality and education, fuels her passion for developing engaging and effective learning tools for the next generation of laboratorians.