LABORATORY TESTING PARAMETERS: Flashcards
What is the typical color of normal semen?
- Normal semen typically has a gray-white color.
What is the opacity or appearance of normal semen?
- Normal semen has an opaque appearance, which means it is not transparent.
What substance causes the gray color in normal semen?
- The gray color in normal semen is caused by a substance called Falvin.
What is a potential visual indicator of low sperm concentration in semen?
clear in color.
What does an increase in white turbidity indicate in the context of appearance?
- Indicates the presence of white blood cells (WBCs)
- And infection within the reproductive tract, with one common infection being Prostatic Infection.
What is a common infection associated with increased white turbidity in appearance?
- Prostatic Infection.
How can Leukocyte Esterase (LE) Reagent strips be helpful in confirming the presence of white blood cells (WBC) in a sample?
- Leukocyte Esterase (LE) Reagent strips are useful in differentiating the presence of WBC from immature sperm (spermatids) in the sample.
What does a positive (+) LE parameter result indicate regarding the round cells?
- A positive (+) LE parameter result indicates that round cells are considered as WBC (White Blood Cells).
What is indicated by a negative (-) LE parameter result regarding round cells?
- A negative (-) LE parameter result indicates that round cells are considered as SPERMATIDS.
What does red coloration in a urine sample indicate?
- Red coloration in a urine sample indicates the presence of RBC (Red Blood Cells).
What can yellow coloration in urine suggest?
- Yellow coloration in urine can suggest urine contamination, prolonged abstinence, or medication use.
How does urine affect sperm?
- Urine is toxic to sperm and can negatively impact their viability and motility.
What is retrograde ejaculation?
- Retrograde ejaculation is a condition where semen enters the bladder instead of emerging through the penis during orgasm.
What type of medication is commonly associated with yellow coloration in urine?
- Yellow coloration in urine is often associated with the use of antibiotics.
What is the normal time frame for liquefaction of a fresh semen specimen after collection?
- A fresh semen specimen typically clots and liquefies within 30 to 60 minutes after collection.
What could be the significance of a semen sample failing to liquefy within 60 minutes?
- If liquefaction does not occur within 60 minutes
- Indicative of a deficiency in prostatic enzymes
- This condition should be reported.
What is the role of prostatic enzymes in the semen?
for the liquefaction of semen
What should you do if the specimen has not liquefied after 2 hours?
- You should induce the liquefaction process.
What are two methods for inducing liquefaction in the specimen?
- Add an equal volume of Physiologic Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline
- Or add proteolytic enzymes such as Alphachymotrypsin or Bromelain.
Why is it important to induce liquefaction in the specimen?
- Inducing liquefaction allows the rest of the analysis to be performed on the specimen.
What is the normal semen volume range?
- Normal semen volume typically ranges from 2 to 5 milliliters (mL).
What can cause an increased semen volume?
- An increased semen volume is often associated with prolonged abstinence.
What is the significance of decreased semen volume?
infertility.
What should be considered when evaluating semen volume?
- When evaluating semen volume
- It’s important to consider the possibility of incomplete specimen collection.
What does viscosity refer to in the context of fluid specimens?
- Viscosity refers to the consistency of the fluid specimen.
How would you describe an incomplete liquefied specimen in terms of viscosity?
clumped and highly viscous.
What is considered normal viscosity in a fluid specimen?
- Means that it can be easily drawn into a pipette
- And forms small discrete droplets, without appearing clumped or stringy.
When do droplets in a fluid specimen form longer than 2cm, and what does it indicate?
- It indicate highly viscous fluid and may suggest an abnormality in enzyme function.
What is the normal pH range for the reproductive tract?
- 7.2 to 8.0, indicating an alkaline environment.
What does an increased pH in the reproductive tract indicate?
- Typically indicates the presence of an infection.
What can a decreased pH in the reproductive tract be associated with?
- Can be associated with increased prostatic fluid, ejaculatory duct obstruction, or poorly developed seminal vesicles.
What is the role of prostatic fluid in the acidity of semen?
- Contains substances or enzymes responsible for the acidity of semen
What is considered a normal sperm concentration range?
- Typically greater than 20 to 250 million sperm per milliliter.
What is the range for borderline sperm concentration?
- It falls in the range of 10 to 20 million sperm per milliliter.
How is sperm count calculated?
- Sperm count is calculated by multiplying sperm concentration by specimen volume.
What is considered a normal sperm count?
- Generally greater than 40 million per ejaculate.
How is sperm cell counting performed using the WBC pipet?
- With a dilution ratio of 1:20, achieved by aspirating semen at the 0.5 mark
- Then diluting it with distilled cold water up to the 11 mark.
Why should you discard the first unit in the pipet before charging the hemocytometer when counting sperm cells using cold water as the diluting fluid?
- The first unit in the pipet is discarded before charging the hemocytometer
- It contains purely diluting fluid (cold water)
What is the formula for sperm cell counting using cold water as the diluting fluid?
- DF = (11 - 1) / 0.5, which equals 20.
What is the counting area for sperm cell counting using a hemocytometer?
- Includes the RBC counting square, 4 corner small squares, and the center small square.
How many elevated counting areas does a hemocytometer have?
- A hemocytometer has 2 elevated counting areas.
How many large squares are there in one entire counting area of a hemocytometer?
- In one entire counting area of a hemocytometer, there are 9 large squares.
In hematology, which specific component is the center large square intended for counting?
- In hematology, the center large square is intended for PLATELET COUNT.
How is the center large square further divided for counting purposes?
- The center large square is divided into 25 small squares for counting purposes.
How do you calculate the average red blood cell (RBC) count using the RBC counting square method, given an example with counts of 100 and 150 RBCs?
- (100 + 150 = 250) and then divide by 2 (250 / 2 = 125).
How do you calculate the total sperm concentration when you have 125 sperm in one unit of measurement?
- Multiply the number of sperm (125) by 1,000,000
- Which equals 125,000,000 sperm per milliliter (sperm/mL).
What is considered a normal sperm count per milliliter (mL)?
- Typically greater than 20,000,000 sperm per mL.
How can you calculate the total sperm count (sperm/ejaculate)?
- Total sperm count (sperm/ejaculate)
- Multiply the total sperm concentration by the volume of semen.
What is the significance of a “Normal Value Count” of >40,000,000 for “ejaculate”?
- Typically refers to the normal range of sperm count in a semen sample
- It indicates a high concentration of sperm, which is important for fertility.
What is the primary requirement for sperm regarding motility?
- Sperm should be capable of forward, progressive motility.
How should sperm motility be assessed in terms of specimen preparation?
- Should be assessed using a well-mixed
- Liquefied specimen within 1 hour of specimen collection.
What happens if the sperm sample is not liquefied, clotted, or coagulated?
- If the sample is not liquefied, clotted, or coagulated
- The specimen will not exhibit movement.
What is considered a normal value for sperm motility?
- A normal value for sperm motility is 2.0 and above.
What is the shape and size of the head of a sperm cell?
- Oval-shaped and measures approximately 5 µm long and 3 µm wide.
What is the function of the acrosomal cap in a sperm cell?
- Contains enzymes critical for ovum penetration
- Helping the sperm penetrate the ovum during fertilization.
What is the function of the neckpiece in morphology?
- Serves as a small structure that attaches the head to the tail and the midpiece.
What is the function of the mitochondrial sheath in the context of morphology?
- The mitochondrial sheath produces energy required by the tail for motility.
How long is the midpiece in morphology, and what is its significance?
- Approximately 7 µm long
- It is the thickest part of the tail surrounded by the mitochondrial sheath.
What is the approximate length of the tail in morphology?
- The tail in morphology is approximately 4-5 µm long.
How is mtDNA inherited?
- MtDNA is inherited exclusively from one’s mother.
What role does the acrosomal cup enzyme play during fertilization?
- Is required for the sperm to penetrate the ovum during the fertilization process.
What happens to the sperm’s components during the penetration process?
- If the sperm’s head inserts into the ovum, only the nucleus enters
- While the midpiece up to the tail of the sperm will detach or be removed.
