Semen Specimen Collection

Tests Offered: Complete Semen Analysis and Post Vasectomy

Before the Collection

• An appointment is required for all collections. Appointments are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. only at the Outpatient Lab at Strong Memorial Hospital.
• Please call (585) 758-0510, option 3 to schedule your appointment. Appointment dates and times will vary depending on the type of test ordered by your provider.
  • Arrival after 30 minutes of appointment time will need to be rescheduled.
  • Nonscheduled arrivals will not be accepted.

Collection Instructions

• You should have an ejaculation 2-4 days prior to your appointment and then abstain until the day of your appointment.
• The semen specimen must be collected into a sterile specimen container (available at your doctor’s office or any URMC Labs Patient Service Center). Alternately, you may use a lab provided spermicide-free condom that is not toxic to the sperm, available ONLY at the Outpatient Lab at Strong Memorial Hospital. DO NOT use lubricant or commercially available condoms since they contain spermicidal agents that will alter results. It is the patient’s responsibility to FULLY empty specimen from the condom into sterile container and discard the condom.
• For complete analysis appointments: We ask that you arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your appointment. It is preferred that specimen is collected on site at the time of appointment and not in advance due to limited stability of these specimens.
• For post-vasectomy analysis appointments: You must deliver your specimen to the Outpatient Lab at Strong Memorial Hospital no more than 45 minutes after ejaculation. Keep the specimen as close to body temperature as possible. If you are unable to deliver the specimen in that time frame, please schedule an appointment to collect the specimen in a room provided at the Outpatient Lab.
• Results will be provided in MyChart. Please contact your doctor’s office with any questions regarding your results.
• Please bring your current insurance card and ID to your appointment.

Forms

If your doctor has given you a lab requisition, please bring it with you along with your current insurance card.

Please complete the following form and bring it with you: URMC LABS Andrology Patient Information Form, and Map

Test offered: Post Vasectomy

Drop off available Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Requirements: Must be received within 30 minutes of collection in a sterile container.

Test offered: Post Vasectomy

Drop off available Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday: 7 a.m.–12 p.m.

Requirements: Must be received within 1 hour and 45 minutes of collection in a sterile container.

Rejection: Lubricant contaminated specimens, specimens collected using condoms with spermicide, specimens collected in non-sterile containers, specimens that are greater than 1 hour 45 minutes old, and refrigerated or frozen specimens.

Collection Instructions: Semen should be collected by masturbation into a sterile container provided to the patient after they have abstained for 2-4 days.  The specimen should be kept at as close to body    temperature as possible and delivered to the laboratory within 1 hour and 45 minutes of collection.  The specimen should be labeled with the patient’s name, date of birth, and the time & date of collection.

Test offered: Post Vasectomy

Drop off available Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–3 p.m.

Requirements: Must be received within 2 hours of collection in a sterile container.

Test offered: Post Vasectomy & Complete Semen Analysis

Walk-in and Drop off available Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Requirements: Must be received within 30 minutes of collection in a sterile container.