Help - Sperm Concentration Rapid Test

How to collect your sperm concentration rapid test sample

Taking this test is a quick and easy way to screen for poor male fertility through low sperm concentration but to obtain an accurate result, it’s essential that you do it correctly.

Watch our video here for clear, step-by-step instructions on how to take the test. It will show you how to collect a semen sample and perform your test, as well as how long you’ll need to wait for a reliable result.

We recommend watching the full video before you start, to ensure you’re ready to collect your sample. You can then use your SPACEBAR to pause the video where needed as you follow along with the step-by-step instructions.

Understanding your Sperm Concentration Rapid Test

To help you understand what steps to take once you have received your results, we’ve put together this page to help you interpret what your results may mean and what you may want to do with these results. Remember: you should always consult a medical professional before making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Before you continue its important that you have:

Read the ‘instructions for use’ leaflet included in your kit
Taken the test according to the instructions

Interpreting your results

Understanding your sperm concentration rapid test results

Once you have collected your sample and performed your test, you must wait 5 minutes after applying your sample into the test cassette, before you read the results. Do not interpret the result after 10 minutes.

If your test result shows two coloured lines in both the control (c) and test (t) regions, it means the sperm concentration in your semen sample has exceeded the threshold to give a positive result. The threshold for this result is a concentration of sperm that is more than or equal to 15 million/mL of semen. The intensity of the line in the test (T) region can vary depending on the concentration, so any visible line should be considered positive.

A normal result indicates that you have a normal concentration of sperm in your semen.

What next?

While sperm concentration is an important factor in male fertility, it should not be considered the only marker for good male fertility. There are several other factors that can impact male fertility, such as sperm motility (the ability of sperm to move), sperm morphology (the size and shape of sperm), and overall sperm count.

Additionally, other factors such as hormonal imbalances, genetic abnormalities, and lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and smoking can also impact male fertility. Even if a man has a high sperm concentration, if his sperm have poor motility or morphology, or if he has other underlying health issues that can impact fertility, he may still struggle to conceive.

It is important to note that fertility is a complex issue and can be impacted by a range of factors. Therefore, it is essential for men who are experiencing fertility issues to consult with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess their overall health and fertility and provide appropriate guidance and treatment options.

When one coloured line is in the control (C) region but not in the test region (T), it means that the sperm concentration in the sample has not reached the threshold of 15 million/mL of semen to be considered ‘normal’.

What next?

Please note that this test is not diagnostic and any result that you have seen must always be followed up with a consultation with a healthcare professional. They can assess your overall health and fertility and will arrange more detailed testing to review this result. They may investigate any possible underlying causes of the low sperm concentration, such as hormonal imbalances, genetic abnormalities, or lifestyle factors. If lifestyle factors are identified as a potential cause, you may need to make changes such as adopting a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and reducing stress.