The Andrology service is part of the Pathology Department based within the Laboratory Medicine and Facilities Management Building at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Laboratory Opening Hours are between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday – Friday.
The service is accredited by UKAS to ISO 15189: 2012 to perform the following diagnostic analyses:
- Sub-Fertility
- Post Vasectomy
- Reversal of Vasectomy
- Antegrade Ejaculation (spinal injuries)
- Retrograde Ejaculation
Clinical Tests Available
| Name of Test | Specimen/Container Requirements: | Further Information: |
| Semen Analysis | Semen analysis is strictly by pre-booked appointment only. Andrology semen analyses are requested by clinicians/G.P.’s The specimen should be brought by the patient at their appointment time: Within 40 minutes of production for sub fertility and reversal of vasectomy. Within two hours of production for post vasectomy. A room is available for patients to produce their samples on site. This must be booked when making appointment. | Please refer to Patient leaflet for more information Only Laboratory provided containers will be accepted for analysis. These are available as part of the specimen kit. Specimen kits are available on request from: Andrology Department, Level 3, Laboratory Medicine and Facilities Management Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow, G51 4TF (0141 354 9488). |
Arranging Semen Analysis Appointments
All requests for semen analysis can be made by the requesting clinician/GP or the patient themselves. Appointments are booked by telephoning the Pathology Department Office on 0141 354 9487, option 1 “Andrology Appointments”. This booking in service is available between 9:00am – 12:00pm and 1:00pm – 4:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). We currently cannot accept requests via Trakcare.
If a patient can produce their sample at home and deliver it to the Lab within 40 minutes for sub fertility analysis and 2 hours for post vasectomy analysis, a drop-off only appointment should be booked. Patients that cannot make it from their home to the lab in these time limits should request a room-use appointment.
Patient Preparation
Each patient must be issued with a specimen kit before they attend their appointment. Please ensure that you complete the enclosed request form before issuing to the patient. We will only accept containers that are provided as part of these kits as these have been tested and passed a non-toxic by the laboratory. Some plastics are toxic to sperm and can affect sperm motility. Each kit consists of:
- In-date laboratory toxicity tested specimen container (60mls) *
- Request form
- Directions to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
- How the NHS handles your data 2018 leaflet
- Patient information leaflet for either sub fertility or post vasectomy analysis
To obtain a supply of these kits please contact the laboratory on 0141 354 9488 from 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays).
*For Retrograde analysis – the lab will supply a different container please contact the lab to discuss this.
Sample Minimum Acceptance Criteria
It is mandatory that samples are labelled with at least three unique identifiers which are as follows;
- Surname
- Forename
- Date of Birth
- CHI number
The request form data must match the above information on the sample, a lack of patient or sample information may result in the laboratory not performing the analysis.
Request form should also contain;
- Forename and Surname
- Patients address
- Requesting clinician details including destination for report
- Type of sample
- All relevant clinical information
- If your patient is awaiting IVF please note this in the Clinical Comments box and the sample will be prioritised.
When attending for their appointment, patient will be asked to confirm the following information about their sample.
- Date and time of sample production
- Is the sample complete
- When their last ejaculate occurred
WHO Reference Ranges for Sub Fertility
World Health Organisation (WHO) laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen (6th edition) (2021) lower reference values are shown in the table below.
The lower 5th percentile (with 95% confidence interval). These values represent the quality of various semen parameters where a couple achieved a natural pregnancy within 12 months of unprotected intercourse.
| Parameter | Lower Reference Value (5th Centile) | 95% Confidence Intervals |
| Volume (ml) | 1.4 | 1.3 – 1.5 |
| Sperm concentration (106 per ml) | 16 | 15 – 18 |
| Total sperm number (106 per ejaculate) | 39 | 35 – 40 |
| Total Motility (PR + NP %) | 42 (within 1 hour of production) | 40 – 43 |
| Progressive Motility (PR %) | 30 (within 1 hour of production) | 29 – 31 |
| Morphology (% normal forms) | 4 | – 4.0 |
Teratozoospermia Index (TZI)
The TZI is one of the indices of multiple sperm defects (number of abnormalities per sperm). This is useful in understanding if there are issues regarding spermatogenesis (sperm production) and can be correlated to fertilisation rates. We do not routinely report the TZI. If this is required, please ensure you request this on the referral form or call the laboratory within 7 days of reporting. The categories of TZI are given below, although it is best to understand that the higher the number (maximum of 4) the higher the number of abnormalities per sperm.
| TZI Number | Category |
| ≤1.6 | Normal |
| 1.61 – 1.80 | Borderline |
| >1.8 | Pathological |
Turnaround Times
Results available electronically within 5 working days from receipt of specimen
Information for Patients
You have been asked to provide a semen sample as part of infertility investigation or after a vasectomy operation. Please do not attend the hospital without an appointment, we will not be able to analyse your sample.
For Sub-Fertility Patients (including Reversal of Vasectomy)
A semen analysis is usually advised if a couple are having difficulties becoming pregnant. This is an extremely common problem affecting up to one in seven couples in the UK. Among those experiencing difficulty, a male fertility problem is considered important in around 40 per cent of couples.
The sample will be analysed according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for volume, pH concentration, motility and morphology. Results will be sent to the referring doctor within 5 working days.
Please note the laboratory will not issue results to anyone other than the requesting doctor.
Please read all of the information provided in the specimen kit carefully as it contains essential information about your appointment and what the laboratory needs you to do so that they can analyse your sample.
For Post Vasectomy Patients
A semen analysis is advised to ensure your vasectomy operation has been successful. Samples can be analysed no earlier than 16 weeks after your operation and with a minimum of 24 ejaculations before sample production.
Please read all of the information provided in the specimen kit carefully as it contains essential information about your appointment and what the laboratory needs you to do so that they can analyse your sample.
Results will be sent to the referring doctor within 5 working days.
Please note the laboratory will not issue results to anyone other than the requesting doctor.
During this time contraceptive precautions should be taken until clearance has been given by your surgeon or doctor.
User Manual
Further information can be found in the NHSGGC Pathology User Manual
Factors That May Affect Semen Results
Some plastics are toxic to sperm so only specimen containers provided within the specimen kits will be accepted.
Extremes of temperature can damage sperm, please keep the sample at body temperature whilst it is being transported to the laboratory, for example by carrying it in your inside pocket.
A condom and/or artificial lubricant must not be used for semen collection as it will kill sperm.
Sperm motility can decline over time so it is important that the sample is examined in under an hour for infertility testing.
The number of days of sexual abstinence can affect sperm quality – Abstinence should be between 2-7 days for semen analysis.
The sperm are in the first part of the ejaculate so the whole sample needs to be collected.
Viscous samples or specimens where there is sperm agglutination/aggregation can affect semen analysis results.