Semen Analysis (Online Course)

(based on 1622 customer ratings)

Daniel Hapner, MT(ASCP); Marge Spahn, MT(ASCP); updated by Dr. Judy Stern, Director, Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

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.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1.5 hour(s)
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General (Hematology): 1.5 hour(s)

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.

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Course Outline

Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.

Introduction to Semen Analysis

Specimen Collection, Transportation, and Accessioning

Specimen Identification
Collection
Collection (continued)
Documenting Collection Information
Condoms are a good way to collect semen specimens for fertility analyses.
Which of the following statements are 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?
Liquefaction of a semen specimen always occurs immediately after ejaculation.
Which of the following statements are true regarding normal viscosity of semen?

Initial Microscopic Examination and Assessment of Sperm Motility

Initial Microscopic Examination of Semen
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 Total Sperm Number
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 ...
A sperm concentration of 25 x 106 spermatozoa/ mL would be considered an abnormally low concentration, according to the lower normal reference limit s...

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
In reference to semen analysis microscopic examination, "round cells" could refer to which of the following types of cells?
The image represents a microscopic field from a wet mount of a semen sample (100X magnification). Round cells are present in this microscopic field.