Our test is the only peer-reviewed, clinically valid, mail-in semen analysis.
But wait… won't my sperm die before arriving at your lab?
Good question. Our method of providing mail-in semen analysis is published and peer-reviewed in one of the leading scientific journals on reproductive health, Fertility & Sterility. This means that we've demonstrated that we can provide results on par with traditional 1-hour semen analysis when analyzing samples received within 52 hours of when they were produced.
How does it work? Fellow Semen Analysis kits include a preservation solution designed to stabilize your sample and a gel pack that helps maintain a moderate temperature during transit. Overnight shipping is included so your sample gets to us as quickly as possible. Despite these measures, semen does still degrade over time. That's why we developed and validated an algorithm that predicts degradation, allowing us to calculate results that are comparable to those provided by testing a fresh specimen.
If you're using the Fellow Vasectomy Test, we look for the presence of sperm—any sperm, living or dead—so degradation isn't an issue. As long as your sample arrives within 10 days, we can analyze it, and if we find sperm you should test again.
Developed with leading doctors to give you clinically valid results.
When it comes to your health and fertility results, “close enough” doesn't cut it. We've partnered with top reproductive health doctors to help ensure that our tests are on par with semen analyses performed within 1 hour of ejaculation.§
Clinically validated accuracy
Fellow's validation study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Fertility and Sterility, demonstrated the accuracy of the Fellow test. Our mail-in semen analysis testing system has a strong degree of correlation between 1-hour and delayed SA testing. This test may be used in clinical practice to evaluate semen quality for fertility evaluations.
Read the publication
Independently reviewed
An independent review of our validation study noted the benefits of Fellow 's accurate mail-in test:"The ability to perform at-home semen analyses testing has numerous clinical and patient implications, including reducing patient anxiety, improving convenience, and potentially the ability to see higher levels of patient compliance"—Thomas A. Masterson, M.D. & Premal Patel, M.D.
Read the publicationWe own and operate our own CLIA-certified laboratory, so we operate at a standard you can trust.
CLIA (pronounced “KLEE-uh”) stands for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, which are federal regulations that describe the standards of quality and compliance for laboratories operating in the United States. Being CLIA-certified means that we are recognized by the federal government for meeting quality regulations for running tests that are used to help doctors and patients make health decisions. Read more about CLIA.
We strive to improve fertility outcomes through research.
Steps from UCSF, our secure biolab is equipped with cutting-edge technology built exclusively for sperm analysis. In partnership with leading experts and universities, we’re able to pioneer research in male reproductive sciences.
§ Samplaski et al. Development and validation of a novel mail-in semen analysis system and the correlation between one hour and delayed semen analysis testing; Fertil Steril. 2021;115(4):922-929