SpermComet - Lab Information

Sample Freezing Protocol for the SpermComet® Test

Ejaculated sperm freezing protocol

1) Before handling the dry shipper please ensure you wear correct PPE

2) You shall receive the dry shipper which is contained in a mushroom shaped shipping

container

3) There is no requirement for you to remove the dry shipper from its mushroom

container

4) Please label cryovials (two per patient) with patient forename, surname, DOB and

your clinic ID

5) All semen samples should be liquefied for at least 30 minutes (up to 60mins) after

ejaculation, which is done by leaving the sample in the sample pot at room

temperature and in the dark.

6) For Cryovials - Add 100µl of semen sample / 200µl of testicular biopsy sample into

each of two cryovials. (For patients with oligozoospermia a volume containing a

minimum of 5000 sperm).

7) For Freezing Straws - Add 100µl of semen sample / 200µl of testicular biopsy sample

into each of two 1.5ml eppendorfs. (For patients with oligozoospermia a volume

containing a minimum of 5000 sperm). Suck each aliquot into a freezing straw and

seal according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

8) Once samples have been added to the shipper, please ensure that the foam cork/lid

is securely placed on the shipper for return to LFT. Failure to do so will result in

temperature failure and loss of the samples.

9) Once samples are loaded, close mushroom container and fasten shut. Place

container at agreed pickup point and the LFT couriers will collect at the agreed time.