Andrology (Semen analysis)

The Andrology Laboratory Service is available for post-vasectomy and fertility analysis for patients from the York and Scarborough area. An agreement is currently in place for Bridlington patients to be routinely referred for testing to The Hull Andrology Unit as the facility is closer. For the Hull Andrology Unit user guide, please see https://www.hulleastridingfertility.co.uk/andrology/andrology-user-guide/

Andrology requirements for requesting: Patients must be provided with a request form, toxicity tested pot and information before they book their appointment.

Andrology request forms: GP requests must be made electronically via ICE with one ICE label placed on the toxicity tested sample pot and one label placed on the request form. Both the labels and forms are printed on the ICE requesting system at the point of requesting.

Hospital requests may be made via CPD (codes: HISANDRO for fertility requests; HISVAS for post-vasectomy tests), generating a CPD request label to attach to a purple topped histology/cytology request form, alternatively the request may be hand-written on the purple topped histology/cytology request form.

Toxicity-tested pots: Order by email: yhs-tr.andrology@nhs.net. Please only use these pots for semen analysis at the York Diagnostic Cytology/Andrology department.

Andrology patient information: Please ensure patients understand the sample-production information. Full information sheets can be printed from the booking website. Further information and FAQs are also on the website. The request forms printed from ICE have brief patient information included. Please note; samples will be rejected if they do not meet the acceptance criteria.

Andrology appointment bookings: Appointments must be made whether the patient intends to drop the sample off or produce it on site in the room provided (subject to availability). Samples must be produced in a suitable private space as carrying out a sexual act in a public area (inc. a public toilet) is a criminal offence (Sexual Offences Act 2003).

Booking website - www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/andrology. Please note; samples will be rejected if an appointment has not been booked. First post-vasectomy samples may be dropped at Scarborough Hospital specimen reception for the transport to York, but these must also be pre-booked.

 Andrology contacts: If you have any questions/problems, please email yhs-tr.andrology@nhs.net. Alternatively, you can call us on 01904 726258, but please note, we may not always be able to answer questions via phone as this is the direct line for the laboratory.

Interpretation of semen analysis results: Decision limits for Fertility semen analysis are provided below (WHO laboratory manual for examination and processing of human semen, Sixth Edition, 2021):

• Semen volume: 1.4ml
• pH: 7.2
• Sperm concentration: 16 million/ml
• Total sperm number: 39 million
• Total motility (progressive (rapid + sluggish) + non-progressive): 42%
• Progressive motility (rapid + sluggish): 30%
• Ideal morphology: 4% (previously reported as normal forms)

 The laboratory has service level agreements (SLAs) in place for providing clinical advice to service-users (excl. patients) regarding results of semen samples assessed and reported for fertility analysis and post-vasectomy analysis:

• Fertility analysis results: Miss Gemma Bentham (GMC Register 7013678)
• Post-vasectomy analysis results: Professor Michael Holmes (GMC Register: 4229034)

Diagnostic Cytology

Contacts for the Diagnostic Cytology Service:

For general result and specimen enquiries, clinical advice and key contact details for the Diagnostic Cytology service (Non-Gynae): Click Here

The Diagnostic Cytology laboratory email address is: yhs-tr.diagnostic.cytology@nhs.net

NHSCSP Cervical Cytology samples have been dealt with in Gateshead since December 2019. Advice for requesters, please Click Here

Hospital requests may be made via CPD (code: HISCYTO), generating a CPD request label to attach to a purple topped histology/cytology request form, and a CPD sample pot label to be attached onto the specimen container. The request may alternatively be hand-written on the purple topped histology/cytology request form and the sample pot labelled with a hospital PID label or 3 pieces of PID may be hand-written (legibly) on the container. Please ensure requests are fully and legibly completed with relevant clinical details. Please do not seal the request form in the bag with the sample. If a sample leaks, the form will be contaminated, and details may not be legible.

GP requests must be made electronically via ICE with two ICE-generated labels printed - one placed on the specimen pot and the other on a purple topped histology/cytology request form.

Sample types and sample containers:

Diagnostic Cytology specimen collection information: Click Here. Examples of the correct containers can also be found in the test directory.

Please ensure Diagnostic Cytology specimens are not sent in the pod system.

Where multiple tests/departments are required, please ensure a separate sample and request form is sent for each discipline (where possible) according to their sample requirements (e.g. Cytology, Microbiology, Biochemistry). This is to avoid sample processing delays or tests being missed. Do not write Cytology as an ‘add-on’ test on another disciplines request forms.

Samples classified as high-risk:

Double bag any high-risk specimens (including pleural fluids). Do not seal the request form in the bag with the sample as clinical details/sample requirements need to be easily readable & high-risk samples will only be unpacked and prepared in the Containment Level 3 facility. Request forms sealed within the bag are more likely to become contaminated as they have been taken into an at-risk area unnecessarily.

Out-of-hours samples:

The Diagnostic Cytology laboratory at York Hospital is open 08:30-17:00 Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays). Please ensure samples are delivered within these core hours where possible, ideally before 16:30. It is important that unfixed cytology samples are refrigerated if there is to be any delay in processing. At York Hospital, if samples must be delivered outside core hours, please request portering staff place samples in the red box labelled ‘Cytology’ in the walk-in fridge on the 1st floor. For ‘out of hours’ samples at Scarborough hospital, ask laboratory staff to refrigerate the sample when delivered.  

Turnaround Times (TATs) for Diagnostic Cytology reports:

The following times given are the minimum time taken to process and produce a typed report. Enquiries regarding reports should not be made in advance of the minimum time. If an urgent report is required, this should be clearly indicated on the request form and a telephone or bleep number must be given.

 As per the Royal College of Pathologists Publication – Key Performance Indicators in Pathology:

A minimum time of 7-10 working days. 80% expected within 7 calendar days from collection date and 90% expected within 10 calendar days from collection date.

Results should be electronically available after authorisation by Pathologist. Result enquiries can be made by contacting the Histology secretaries. Please see the ‘Key contacts – Histology & Non-Gynae Cytology’ for contact details.

Factors/exceptions affecting TATs:

The nature of Cellular Pathology as a whole means it is difficult to accurately specify TATs for individual cases as these depend upon several variables. These include; specimen type, the complexity of the case and additional investigations/ further specialist tests that may be required. 

Exceptions to normal TAT

• Cases that require a second opinion outside of the department.
• Complex cases that require further tests to be performed outside of the department/ more clinical information.

Samples referred to other laboratories’:

• Diagnostic Cytology samples with clinical information suggestive of haematological malignancy may require further investigations which are not in our laboratories’ repertoire. These will be forwarded where appropriate to the Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
• Samples may also be referred to other laboratories for further molecular investigations for non-haematological malignancy, usually after initial cytological assessment.

HMDS samples

HMDS investigations on cerebrospinal fluid specimens (CSF) samples and fresh specimens (such as pleural fluids) should ideally be received at HMDS within 4 hours if flow cytometry or RNA extraction is required. Ensure samples are refrigerated if there are any delays.

• Please note; the Diagnostic Cytology laboratory does not provide an out-of-hours service (see above for working hours).

• All CSF samples requiring HMDS referral will be sent via Haematology. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Haematology (yorkhospitals.nhs.uk)

• If Diagnostic Cytology is not required, Haematology should handle any fresh samples designated for HMDS. Please use a Haematology request form. Alternatively, the sample should be sent directly to HMDS following your usual protocol.
• If Diagnostic Cytology is also required, a separate sample (if possible) should be sent with a Histology/Cytology request form, stating that a sample has also been sent for HMDS. Otherwise, the sample may need to be split at the lab, causing delays.

• Please ring the appropriate laboratory to inform them that a sample for HMDS is being taken and where possible aim to deliver the sample at least 30 minutes before the transport time. This will enable the sample to be appropriately labelled, packaged, and tracked.
• There are 2 transport runs to Leeds from York Hospital daily at 13:30 and 16:00. Alternatively, the laboratories can arrange ad hoc transport where necessary.
• For samples taken at Scarborough Hospital, please ring the Scarborough lab on 771 2625. The transport to Leeds from Scarborough is at 15:00, but ad hoc transport can also be arranged where necessary.
• Please note; the HMDS opening hours & request forms can be found at http://hmds.info/diagnostic-service/how-to-send-us-a-specimen. Turnaround times can be found under the current guidance on the HMDS user guide Laboratory-User-Guide.pdf.

Web page 50 last updated: September 2025