Semen Identification

Question 1

The molecular weight of PSA is…

Answer 1

30 kDa

Question 2

True or False:
Unlike females, who are born with all of the eggs that they will produce, males can typically produce new sperm over the course of their entire adult life (post-puberty).

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Describe the chemical reaction(s) involved in the Brentamine color test for Acid Phosphatase.

Answer 3

If acid phosphatase (and therefore semen) is present, it will hydrolyze the alpha-napthyl phosphate when it is added and produce alpha-napthol and inorganic phosphate. Then, when the fast blue B dye (a diazonium salt) is added, it will couple to the alpha-napthol at a position ortho to its hydroxyl group. This then results in the color change observed (a pink-purple result).

Question 4

While
_______
refers to a low sperm count,
________
refers to the lack of sperm in semen.

Answer 4

Oligospermia, aspermia

Question 5

The normal volume of ejaculate is approximately…

Answer 5

2-5 mL

Question 6

Semenogelin is a protein in seminal fluid that…

Answer 6

assists in coagulation of semen upon ejaculation

Question 7

If a sample screens positive with multiple presumptive tests (e.g. ALS, AP, PSA, Sg) but no sperm cells are visualized microscopically, what should the analyst conclude was present in their report?

Answer 7

Seminal Fluid

Question 8

What does Puranen’s test have?

Answer 8

Spermine Diflavianate Crystals, Orange Crystals, and Naphthol Yellow S Reagent

Question 9

What does Barberio have?

Answer 9

Yellow Needle-Shaped Crystals, Spermine Picrate Crystals, Saturated Picric Acid, and Absolute Ethanol Solution

Question 10

What does Florence have?

Answer 10

Brown Rhomboid Crystals, Choline Di-iodide Crystals, and Saturated Picric Acid and Absolute Ethanol Solution

Question 11

The concentration of sperm in the normal ejaculate ranges from ____________________________ per mL.

Answer 11

10-150 million

Question 12

True or False:
Semen and seminal fluid are interchangeable terms.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Another name for Semenogelin is

Answer 13

Seminal Vesicle Specific Antigen

Question 14

In the normal ejaculate, often, up to ____________________ of sperm are dead and more than ________________________ are abnormally shaped.

Answer 14

25%, 50%

Question 15

What stain has Epithelial cells have green cytoplasm and a red nucleus, Sperm heads glow bright orange when viewed under the crossed poles of a Polarized Light Microscope, Acrosomal cap stains a light pink, Sperm nuclei stain dark red, Sperm tails stain light or blueish green

Answer 15

Xmas tree stain

Question 16

What stain has All nuclei appear blue, Sperm heads appear green

Answer 16

Sperm Hy-liter

Question 17

What stain has Epithelial cells have pink cytoplasm and a purple nucleus, Sperm nuclei stain deep purple, Acrosomal cap stains a light lavender

Answer 17

Hemotoxylin and Eosin

Question 18

What is the name of the top of the sperm head?

Answer 18

Acrosome

Question 19

Vaginal and seminal acid phosphatase are enzymes that can only be distinguished by their…

Answer 19

Electrophoretic Mobility