Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1207 page)

   Highly viscous specimens may affect accuracy of concentration results.

   A minimum of two analyses, preferably 1 month apart, are recommended to correct for cyclical variation in sperm concentration.

   Specimen collection should occur within a window of 48- to 72-hour abstinence to maximize average concentration of live cells.

Suggested Readings

Cooper TG, Noonan E, von Eckardstein S, et al. World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics.
Hum Reprod Update.
2010;16:231–245.

World Health Organization Department of Reproductive Health and Research.
World Health Organization Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen
, 5th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2010.

SEMEN FRUCTOSE
*

   Definition

   The semen fructose test is a test for fructose in seminal plasma, which is a marker of seminal vesicle function.

   
Reference range:
≥13 μmol per ejaculate.

   Use

   Workup of azoospermia, especially when ejaculate volume is <1 mL and fails to coagulate.

   Interpretation

Increased In

   No upper limit defined

Decreased In

   Seminal vesicle obstruction (in conjunction with low semen volume)

   Atresia distal to the seminal vesicles (in conjunction with low semen volume)

   Limitations