About Your Test
- Your health professional has requested a test to count the number of sperm present in your seminal fluid for either fertility studies or following a vasectomy.
- Please keep your sample warm and deliver it to Awanui Labs – Wellington within 1 hour of collection for fertility testing, or within 2 hours for Post Vasectomy testing.
Ideally, you should deliver this directly to the main laboratory at Wellington Hospital so that the specimen can be processed immediately.- Samples for Post Vasectomy testing can alternatively be delivered to the Lower Hutt or Courtenay Place collection centres to be collected by our courier for delivery to the Wellington Hospital Laboratory.
At these collection centres, please drop your sample off shortly before the stated courier times. - Courier Times:
Lower Hutt: 9.45am and 11.00am
- Samples for Post Vasectomy testing can alternatively be delivered to the Lower Hutt or Courtenay Place collection centres to be collected by our courier for delivery to the Wellington Hospital Laboratory.
- You will need to obtain a specimen container and delivery bag from your health professional or from Awanui Labs.
Directions to the Main Laboratory
Awanui Labs
Level 5 CSB Block
Wellington Hospital
Newtown
If using the Mein Street hospital entrance, turn right and follow signs for the purple elevators.
If using the Riddiford Street hospital entrance, turn right from the main atrium, following the orange line past radiology, up the stairs, and to the purple elevators.
Samples to be delivered Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm.
The Procedure
- You should abstain from any sexual activity, including masturbation, for 3 days (but not more than 7 days), before collecting your sample. This ensures optimal numbers of sperm are present.
- Collect your sample by masturbation – do not use a condom to collect your sample as the spermicidal agent in the condom will affect your test results.
- Collect seminal fluid into the specimen container and screw the lid down firmly. It is important to collect the whole sample.
- Label the specimen container with your full name, your date of birth, and the date and time of the collection.
- Place the specimen container in the delivery bag provided, with the form in the front pocket.
- Deliver your sample to Awanui Labs as soon as possible. Keep the sample warm. Do not put the sample in the fridge.
- Samples to be delivered Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm.
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