RN Nursing · Urinary Elimination · Practice question
Within how many minutes should the phlebotomist instruct the patient to deliver a semen sample to the laboratory?
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30
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✓
60
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90
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120
Answer & explanation
Correct: 60
Standard laboratory guidelines specify that a semen sample for analysis — such as for fertility testing or post-vasectomy evaluation — must be delivered to the laboratory within 60 minutes of collection. Sperm motility begins to decline shortly after ejaculation, and temperature changes during transport can also affect viability and morphology. Delivering the specimen within the 60-minute window ensures that the sample is assessed while the findings remain clinically relevant and reproducible. Patients are typically instructed to keep the sample close to body temperature during transport, for instance by placing the container in a shirt pocket. A 30-minute window, while theoretically better, is not the standard instruction given to patients because it may be impractical. Windows of 90 or 120 minutes are too long and would result in significant motility decline and cellular degradation, leading to inaccurate results. The 60-minute standard is therefore the accepted and widely taught guideline for semen specimen transport to the laboratory.
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