"How does the test kit work?"

The home sperm count test is an easy to use screening test to measure sperm concentration. The test has been set up to indicate whether the sperm concentration is above or below 20 million sperm cells per millilitre (millions/mL). A positive result is one which shows a sperm concentration above 20 millions/mL and a negative result is one which shows sperm concentration of less than 20 million/mL.

A sperm concentration of less than 20 million/mL has been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the level that may indicate male infertility.

The test works by staining the cells in the sperm sample to produce a blue colour. The intensity of the blue colour is compared to a reference well on the test cassette to decide if the test is positive or negative.

The test should be performed on at least two semen samples and the second sample should be collected and tested between 3-7 days after the first test.

Remember that sperm concentration is only one of the factors used by physicians to determine fertility and it is important to recognise that a positive test is not a guarantee of fertility.

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