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Test Code POSV Post Vasectomy Check, Semen

Reporting Name

Post Vasectomy Check, Semen

Useful For

Determining absence or presence of sperm postvasectomy

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Semen


Shipping Instructions


Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection. Send specimen Monday through Thursday only and not the day before a holiday. If holiday falls on a Saturday, holiday will be observed on the preceding Friday. Sunday holidays are observed on the following Monday. Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as possible. Laboratory does not perform testing on weekends.



Necessary Information


Include the following information with the specimen:

-Semen volume

-Number of days of sexual abstinence



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Patient should have 2 to 7 days of sexual abstinence at the time of semen collection for accurate results.

Container/Tube: Semen Analysis Kit (T178)

Specimen Volume: Total ejaculate


Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Semen Ambient

Reference Values

Zero sperm seen

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

89321

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
POSV Post Vasectomy Check, Semen 50677-4

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
ABSTN Abstinence 10587-4
CLST1 Collection Site 56816-2
VL53 Semen Volume 3160-9
CENT Centrifuged 8100-0
SPML1 Sperm/mL 51623-7
MOTIL Motility 6800-7
GR3 Grade 29990-9
CMMT4 Comment 48767-8

Clinical Information

Following a vasectomy, sperm may be found in the semen for 6 weeks to 3 months or longer. Regular ejaculation (every 3-4 days) may eliminate sperm from the reproductive tract more quickly.

 

To check for the absence of sperm, semen should be evaluated for the presence of sperm 3 months postvasectomy and after a minimum of 20 ejaculations. Because the sperm count may be very low, the semen is centrifuged for concentration purposes.

 

A negative result from 1 well-mixed postvasectomy semen specimen generally indicates that the use of contraception is no longer necessary. Occasional cases have been reported where postvasectomy semen analysis shows intermittent presence of rare nonmotile sperm in the semen.(1)

Interpretation

Patients may stop using other methods of contraception when examination of 1 well-mixed postvasectomy semen specimen shows azoospermia or rare nonmotile sperm (RNMS) (≤ 100,000 nonmotile sperm/mL).

 

The risk of pregnancy after vasectomy is approximately 1 in 2000 for men who have postvasectomy azoospermia or postvasectomy semen analysis (PVSA) showing RNMS.(1)

 

If >100,000 nonmotile sperm/mL persist beyond 6 months after vasectomy, then trends of serial PVSAs and clinical judgment should be used to decide whether the vasectomy is a failure and whether repeat vasectomy should be considered.(1)   

 

Vasectomy should be considered a failure if any motile sperm are seen on PVSA at 6 months after vasectomy, in which case repeat vasectomy should be considered.

Cautions

No significant cautionary statements

Method Description

Seminal fluid is examined microscopically for sperm. Specimen is centrifuged if no sperm are seen and re-examined for the presence or absence of sperm. If sperm are present, the number and motility are assessed and reported.(Keel BA, Webster BW: CRC Handbook of the Laboratory Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1990)

Report Available

1 day

Specimen Retention Time

Not retained

Reject Due To

All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Method Name

Manual

Clinical Reference

1. Sharlip ID, Belker AM, Honig S et al; American Urological Association: Vasectomy: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2012 Dec;188(6 Suppl):2482-2491. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.080

2. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 5th ed. WHO Press; 2010

3. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 6th ed. World Health Organization; 2021

Secondary ID

9205