Warning about home semen analysis kit!

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Registered: 05-09-2003
Warning about home semen analysis kit!
Sat, 08-16-2003 - 9:34am
BE SURE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!

Okay...so DH and I decided to try using the kit just to see that he had a normal sperm count. DH did his part of depositing the sample into the cup...and then I did the little scientific experiment...reminded me of science experiments we did in school in 7th grade!

You have to put a drop of semen in the test spot...then add a drop of blue liquid, wait 1 minute and then add a drop of clear liquid. If the blue color in the test spot is as dark or darker than the control, then that means sperm count is at or above 20 million.

Well...I did the steps and the test spot was MUCH darker than the control...and I was so excited... but I made myself walk away and not come back for about 7 minutes for the final reading, because that was what I thought the directions said.

When I came back later, the color was almost the same as the control. I was worried. A few minutes later, DH came in and the color was lighter. I was devastated. I tried to act strong and supportive and like it was not a big deal...but I just wanted to cry. I thought surely that means we'll never have a baby.

A couple of hours later, we were getting ready for bed. I pulled out the test to look at it again, the the test color had faded to the point it was almost gone. DH grabbed the instructions...and started laughing. You are supposed to check the result WITHIN 5 minutes...Not AFTER 5 minutes!!! I'm so used to making myself do something else for 3-5 minutes before reading an HPT, I just did the same thing with the semen analysis.

And the good news it...the test spot was definitely darker than the control in the first 5 minutes of the test! Yay!!! Finally, an at-home test that we have passed!!

Anne

Anne - Proud Mommy to Rachel Elizabeth!