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New Mail-In Kits Revolutionize Fertility Testing in Northern Ontario
13 Jan
Summary
- At-home semen testing kits launched for men in northern Ontario.
- Kits improve access, reducing delays caused by travel and embarrassment.
- Mail-in analysis uses a device separating motile sperm for accuracy.
Fertility testing for men in northern Ontario has been transformed with the recent launch of mail-in semen testing kits. Developed by Flow Labs, this new service addresses significant access barriers faced by individuals in rural and remote communities, where traveling to clinics for sample collection often causes lengthy delays in treatment.
These kits are designed to provide lab-standard analysis from the convenience of a patient's home. A key innovation is a device within the kit that separates motile sperm at the point of collection, allowing for accurate motility assessment even when samples arrive at the lab days later. This technology ensures men receive the same comprehensive results—sperm count, movement, and morphology—as they would with traditional in-person testing.
Dr. Karen Splinter highlighted that the mail-in option could also help men who feel embarrassed about in-clinic visits. While the testing is covered by OHIP with a doctor's requisition, patients incur an $80 fee for the kit, courier, and packaging. Flow Labs hopes to expand the service's reach and eventually achieve profitability.
