This page is for professionals referring patients for male fertility investigations and/ or storage.
NUH Life provides NHS- and self-funded andrology services including semen analysis and sperm storage.
Referring for semen analysis
Sperm quality can deteriorate significantly from an hour after production, therefore semen analysis is a time critical test. As such we have to be quite prescriptive about how samples are collected for analysis.
Referrals for diagnostic semen analysis should be raised through ICE. Please provide your patient with the NUH Life testing kit (see below) when you book the request and attach the ICE barcode sticker to the request card. Secure electronic results will be available on NOTIS following report authorisation (usually within 7 days).
Semen analysis testing kits
Semen analysis testing kits comprise of: a white NUH Life request card, a 60ml specimen container supplied by NUH Life, Semen Analysis patient information leaflet, and a specimen bag. Other laboratory request cards and specimen containers not provided by NUH Life should not be used. Kits are available to all GP surgeries – please contact us on 0115 9709417 for further supplies.
Patient information and instructions
Encourage the patient to read the Semen Analysis patient information leaflet, which contains all of the instructions. Please also inform them that:
Testing is by appointment only, as this is a time critical test
Patients should call NUH Life directly to male an appointment
Patients should abstain from ejaculation for 2-5 days before their test, and no more than 7 days
Samples must be delivered directly to the laboratory by the patient or their partner within one hour of production. NUH Life has a dedicated parking space for patients dropping off samples.
Patients with blood borne viruses
Patients with blood borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis can still be referred for semen analysis. The viral status should be clearly indicated on the semen analysis request card, and patients should inform staff at the point of booking their appointment.
Referral for sperm banking (fertility preservation)
The majority of sperm banking referrals are for men, adolescent males and trans women receiving: Chemotherapy or radio therapy, Urological surgery e.g. prostate, bladder, testicular biopsy, vasectomy, Spinal surgery, Gender reassignment treatment, As part of assisted conception
Those with a cancer diagnosis or receiving chemotherapy for a serious non-malignant condition can often be seen within 24 hours. For an urgent referral, please call the andrology laboratory on 0115 9709417 or email our sperm banking request form to [email protected].
NHS funding for sperm banking
For NHS-funded referral, approval should be obtained using the blueteq system. This online approval system speeds up the approval process through the ICB. However, please be assured that we will not delay seeing urgent referrals by waiting for approval. If you do not have access to the online system you can download the form below and email it to the ICB.
Download SRP Prior Approval Form – Gamete and Embryo Storage
Referral for erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction
As these issues are not always or often associated with fertility, specific referral information is obtained through the Chandos Clinic based at NUH City campus.