Sample Preparation and Submission

Blood

• Collect blood sample in either a Red top, or a Tiger top tube.
• Allow a minimum of 15 minutes for the sample to clot.
• Centrifuge for 5 minutes.
• Pour off the serum (top layer) into a separate plastic tube, cap tightly and label the tube as serum. Include the patient's name and sample date on the pour-off tube.

• Collect blood sample in a Blue top tube. (Sodium Citrate)
• Mix well immediately.
• Centrifuge for 10 minutes.
• Pour off the plasma (top layer) into a separate plastic tube, cap tightly and label the tube as plasma. Include the patient's name and sample date on the pour-off tube.

• Collect blood sample per Specimen Requirement List.
• Mix well immediately.
• DO NOT centrifuge the sample.
• Label the tube with the patient's name and sample date.
• Store at ambient temperature.

• Collect one Purple top tube (EDTA) from the male partner.
  • Mix well immediately.
  • Label the tube with the male partner's name and sample date.
• Collect one Purple top tube (EDTA) from the female partner.
  • Mix well immediately.
  • Label the tube with the female partner's name and sample date.
• Pack the two blood tubes into the Styrofoam box. Slide the Styrofoam box and the test requisition forms for each partner into the provided cardboard container. Seal the box and place it in the FedEx diagnostic bag.
• Ship to Repromedix the same day via FedEx Priority Overnight.

LAD (Leukocyte Antibody Detection)  
Male and Female Samples Required
Ship Monday - Thursday ONLY

• Collect one Green top tube (Heparin) from the male partner.
• Mix well immediately.
• Label the tube with the male partner's name and sample date.
• Collect one Red or Tiger top tube from the female partner.
  • Allow at least 15 minutes for the sample to clot.
  • Centrifuge for 5 minutes.
• Pour off the serum (top layer) into a separat eplastic tube, cap tightly and label the tube as serum. Include the patient's name and sample date on the pour-off tube.
• Pack the two blood tubes into the Styrofoam box. Slide the Styrofoam box and the test requisition forms for each partner into the provided cardboard container. Seal the box and place it in the FedEx diagnostic bag.
• Ship to Repromedix the same day via FedEx Priority Overnight.

Semen

• Contact Repromedix Client Services at 800-667-8893 x716 for shipping materials and instructions.
• The sample should be collected after 2-3 days of abstinence
• Two cool packs must be frozen at least overnight at between -10° C and -20° C. If you receive cool packs from Repromedix, place them in the freezer immediately.
• Label the conical tube with patient name and date of collection. Note: DO NOT USE Test Yolk Buffer. DO NOT USE any cryoprotectants.
• Once the sample is collected, it needs to sit at room temperature for one hour to liquefy.
• Using the provided pipette, transfer liquefied semen sample into the labeled 15 ml conical tube.
• Store the sample in a 4°C refrigerator until ready for shipment (up to 9 days.) Note: DO NOT FREEZE, DO NOT SHIP with SDFA specimens in dry ice shipping container.
• For shipping:
  • Wrap tube in plastic bubble wrap to avoid direct contact with cool packs
  • Place wrapped semen tube between two frozen cool packs
  • Pack in Styrofoam box inside cardboard shipping carton
  • Ship the specimen to Repromedix using the prepaid FedEx shipping form

Ship to Repromedix the same day via FedEx Priority Overnight

Items supplied for collecting and shipping the semen samples:

• One transfer pipette
• Two cryovials
• Prepaid FedEx slip
• One Biohazard bag
• Specimen preparation instructions

Dry ice shipper (to be shipped the day before pre-scheduled appointment)

• Corrugated cardboard box
• 5 lbs. dry ice, packed in
• One 2" thick wall Styrofoam container

Instructions for specimen collection, storage, and shipping:
Caution: Use standard laboratory procedures and practices to collect and handle the specimen. When handling dry ice and/or liquid nitrogen, wear proper gloves and face protection.

• After two to three days of abstinence (no more than 3 days), have patient masturbate into the semen collection cup. Note: More than 3 days of abstinence may affect SDFA results.
• Allow the semen to liquefy at room temperature for approximately 1 hour.
• Label the cryovials with patient name and date of collection. Note: DO NOT USE Test Yolk Buffer. DO NOT USE any cryoprotectants.
• Using the provided pipette, fill the cryovials up to 0.3 to 0.5 ml (no more than 0.5ml). The volumes are marked on the vial.
• Quickly freeze the cryovials immediately in the dry ice container until frozen (a few minutes).
• If dry ice is not available at the time of specimen collection, quickly freeze the cryovials in a liquid nitrogen tank or -80 ° C freezer.
• Samples frozen in liquid nitrogen or a -80 ° C freezer may be stored up to one week before being shipped on dry ice.
• If neither a liquid nitrogen tank nor a -80 ° C freezer is available, specimen may be stored in 4 ° C refrigerator for up to 4 hours before being shipped on dry ice.
• For shipping:
  • Place the frozen cryovials into the provided biohazard bag
  • Seal the bag
  • Insert the completed requisition form in the pocket of the biohazard bag
  • Place the bag in the dry ice shipping (Styrofoam) container
  • NOTE: Do not allow specimen to thaw during transfer
  • Ship the specimen to Repromedix using the prepaid FedEx shipping form

Ship to Repromedix the same day via FedEx Priority Overnight
Note: One sample can be split between the SDD and the SDFA test provided there is enough sperm in the sample. After 2-3 days of abstinence, collect the sample and liquefy at room temperature for one hour. Then split the sample following the directions above for each test doing the SDFA first followed by the remaining sample for the SDD.

• Thaw vial of TYB (this can be done by placing frozen vial in the 37 ° C water bath).
• Extract semen into a sterile specimen container by masturbation following a two to three day abstinence period. It is preferred that sample delivery is done in the doctor's office for strict control over time of delivery and professional handling and preparation. In the event that extraction is done at home, ideally the sample should be brought to the physician's lab for processing within less than 60 minutes for preservation and shipment, and in due time for shipment to leave the same day as Priority Overnight.
• Warm TYB vial to 37 ° C.
• Transfer specimen to a 15 ml conical test tube and mark the volume.
• Warm semen specimen up to 37 ° C for one minute (using the water bath and checking temperature with the thermometer).
• Open Test Yolk Buffer vial and, using the sterile pipette, transfer buffer slowly to the semen drop-wise.
  Note: DO NOT add semen to TYB - add buffer to semen.
  Note: Buffer must be added very slowly to avoid shock, at a rate of one drop every 20-30 seconds until the added buffer volume is equal to the original semen volume, i.e. until the final mixture is twice the original volume.
• Mix the semen-buffer gently but thoroughly with the pipette. Cap test tube tightly when done.
  • Warm the tube up to 37 ° C for one minute
  • Place the mixture test tube in the refrigerator for slow cooling to 2-5 ° C (45-60 minutes)
  • After sample has cooled down, place tube and the blue ice pack (drawn out of the freezer) in the Styrofoam container, and prepare the package for shipment
  • Call Federal Express to arrange a Priority Overnight shipment (to assure pick-up on the same day and sample arrival at Repromedix before 10:00 a.m. on the following morning)

Note: For SPA and ASA tests, Repromedix requires a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to sample arrival. Please call Client Service at 800-667-8893 to schedule your test.

Semen Analysis 
Available only to patients/labs located no further than 30 miles from Repromedix' Woburn, MA headquarters.

• On the morning of the test, patient should take a shower, avoiding high temperatures. Genitalia must be cleaned thoroughly with water (DO NOT USE SOAP!) Dry with a clean towel. Put on clean undergarments.
• Sperm should be collected between 8:00 am and 10:00 am at room temperature by masturbation into a sterile cup container.
• Sperm should be collected after a minimum of 48 hours of abstinence but no longer than 7 days of abstinence.
• Sperm should be kept at room temperature in the specimen container and delivered by courier within one hour to Repromedix.

Note: For Semen Analysis tests, Repromedix requires a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to sample arrival. Please call Client Services at 800-667-8893 to schedule your test.