• Semen specimen produced by masturbation only, collected into a sterile, non-toxic, pre-weighed, wide-mouthed clear plastic container provided by the laboratory with a hand written label. Note: Any lost fraction of sample can be recorded on the patient’s pre-analysis questionnaire (provided by the laboratory).
• Non-toxic condoms may only be used for sample collection in exceptional circumstances, such as when it is evident that the patient has an inability to produce a sample by masturbation and only after the GP has discussed these circumstances with the laboratory prior to the patient booking a sample delivery appointment.
• The patient needs to have abstained from intercourse/ejaculation for 48 hours prior to sample collection, but needs to have had intercourse or ejaculated at least once, 5 days prior to the 48 hour abstinence period.
• Patients will need to produce their samples at home on the day of their appointment, within 50 minutes of their scheduled appointment time as there are no on-site sample production facilities. Patients are prohibited to using hospital toilets as a sample production room.
• There is no minimum sample volume required – samples of low volume may be of clinical significance.
• Containers need to be labelled by the patient with their full name, date of birth and HRN/NHS number by hand and not using any additional pre-labelled stickers as this affects the final sample volume.

• Must be at least 12 weeks post-procedure and after a minimum of 20 ejaculations.
• A complete ejaculate of semen produced my masturbation only, collected into a pre-weighed non-toxic container provided by the laboratory.
• Note: Incomplete samples & samples that have leaked in transit cannot be tested and will be rejected.
• Note: Samples produced in any other container than that provided by the laboratory will be rejected.
• The patient needs to have abstained from intercourse/ejaculation for 48 hours prior to sample collection, but needs to have had intercourse or ejaculated at least once, 5 days prior to the 48 hour abstinence period.
• Patients will need to produce their samples at home on the day of their appointment, within 50 minutes of their scheduled appointment time as there are no on-site sample production facilities. Patients are prohibited to using hospital toilets as a sample production room.
• Containers need to be labelled by the patient with their full name, date of birth and HRN/NHS number by hand and not using any additional pre-labelled stickers as this affects the final sample volume.

• The entire sample has leaked in transit (Basic Semen Analysis). Partial loss of sample is acceptable for Basic Semen Analysis with a record of the lost fraction on the patient-pre analysis questionnaire.
• Patients who bring an empty sample container to their appointment assuming they can produce their samples on site. Under no circumstances can we be seen to condone onsite sample production within the hospital premises.
• Samples that are dropped off at the laboratory reception when the patient has not attended his sample delivery appointment and there is no patient pre-analysis form filled out.
• Unlabelled/incorrectly labelled samples (for example those that are dropped off at the laboratory reception when the patient has not attended his sample delivery appointment).
• Samples that arrive at the laboratory when the patient does not have an appointment and the workload in the laboratory does not allow time for the sample to be tested.
• Samples that arrive at the laboratory through the EPA GP blood sample transport system.
• The patient does not have a valid request from a clinician for the test.
• If a sample has been brought to the sample delivery appointment by a representative and the pre-analysis questionnaire has not been signed by the patient. • Samples that are not produced on the same day as their scheduled appointment.

The patient will arrive at the Pathology reception and be greeted by a laboratory staff member who will escort the patient to an Andrology Consultation Room or a private location within the pathology reception waiting area. The laboratory staff will check the patient has a valid request form and check the sample container is correctly labelled in comparison to the request form. The pre-analysis questionnaire will also be checked to ensure it is complete and signed by the patient. This checking process only takes a few minutes. Only then can samples be accepted for testing.

• All samples are to be brought to the laboratory by the patient on the date and time of their appointment and must be less than 50 minutes old at the time of their appointment. Samples delivered after 50 minutes post collection due to travel time or traffic issues will not be rejected, but the timeframe between collection and time of analysis will be noted on the final report and suitable comments will be added to the report if any of the results are abnormal.
• The patient must ensure that the sample is kept as close to body temperature (between 20-37°C) as possible by keeping the sample close to the body in a trouser/coat pocket during transport to the laboratory.
• The patient needs to have correctly completed and signed the pre-analysis questionnaire and must bring this to the sample delivery appointment.
• The patient must bring their request form to the sample delivery appointment.
• Samples may be delivered by the patient’s partner/representative only if the patient has labelled the sample container with three points of identification and correctly completed and signed the pre-analysis questionnaire. The patient’s partner/representative must bring the patient’s request form to the sample delivery appointment, and must adhere to the sample delivery requirements stated above and in the patient information leaflet.
• Note: Samples delivered by a representative where the patient has not signed the patient’s pre-analysis questionnaire will be rejected.

Basic Semen Analysis appointments are booked a minimum of 10 days in advance to allow sufficient time for posting the sample pack and for the patient to adhere to the sample collection instructions. 

Post Vasectomy Semen Analysis appointment should be no sooner than 12 weeks post-procedure and after a minimum of 20 ejaculations. 

The current approximate waiting times for appointments at JPUH are between 10 days and 3 weeks from the day of booking depending upon availability.

The current approximate waiting times for appointments at NNUH are between 2 weeks and 1 month from the day of booking depending upon availability.

The current approximate waiting times for appointments at QEH are between 10 days and 2 weeks from the day of booking depending upon availability.