PRINCIPLE:

Examination for presence or absence of spermatozoa in a post vasectomy seminal fluid in order to ensure that a vasectomy procedure was successful.

MATERIAL NEEDED:

Clean glass slides and cover slips.

SPECIMEN: 

Post vasectomy seminal fluid collected in a clean container. The specimen should be the complete specimen.

PROCEDURE:

• Place a small drop of seminal fluid on two clean glass slide and cover slip.
• Screen the two slides under low power for the presence of sperm.

If no spermatozoa are seen you can concentrate the specimen by centrifugation in order to ensure that no spermatozoa are present.

1. Place the specimen into a plastic conical centrifuge tube
2. Centrifuge the specimen at 2500 RPM for 20 minutes.
3. Remove the supernatant and place one drop of the pellet onto each of two slides.
4. Cover slip the slides and examine the concentrated seminal fluid for the presence of sperm.

INTERPRETATION:

If spermatozoa are seen on the initial examination note if they are motile.

If no spermatozoa are seen then report “No Spermatozoa were identified”

Expected Range:  No Spermatozoa were identified.

QUALITY CONTROL:

Examine slide or printed material of a seminal fluid. Slide or printed material can be provided by St. Peter’s hospital.

REFERENCES:

1. Body Fluids Laboratory Examination of Amniotic, Cerebrospinal, seminal, Serous & Synovial Fluids  Carl R. Kjeldsberg, Joseph A. Knight,  Second edition. American Society of clinical Pathologist  Press, Chicago.
2. St. Peter’s Hospital Body Fluid Procedural manual 

PLACED INTO SERVICE: September 21, 2005               SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS PRACTISES.