Introducing Our Mail-In Semen Analysis Kit - Order Yours Today
Introducing Our Mail-In Semen Analysis Kit - Order Yours Today
Whether you’re preparing for your first appointment, ordering a mail-in semen analysis kit, or waiting for results, this page answers some of the most common questions about FlowLabs testing and services.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact our team and we’ll be happy to help.
Yes, you need a requisition from a licensed healthcare practitioner. If you don’t have one, you can download a blank requisition form for your healthcare practitioner to complete, or book a virtual consultation with FlowTelehealth, a separate service offered by Flow Health Services.
1. Register: Visit the registration page, confirm your requisition details, and enter your name, contact information, patient details, and insurance information.
2. Upload your requisition and select the test(s): Choose the test(s) listed on your doctor’s requisition, such as semen analysis or DNA fragmentation.
3. Order a sample collection kit (if needed): Depending on your appointment type, you will either:
4. Receive your kit: For drop-off appointments, you can either pick up your kit from a FlowLabs location (no appointment necessary) or have it shipped to you for a small fee.
5. Book an appointment: Please allow up to 72 hours after registering to receive your confirmation email before booking your appointment. Log into the patient portal and schedule a drop-off or on-site collection appointment at your preferred FlowLabs location. If you have any difficulty booking, contact us for assistance.
6. Collect your sample: For drop-off appointments, follow the instructions in the kit to collect your sample, then drop it off to a FlowLabs location within an hour of collection, keeping it at body temperature from the time of collection until drop off. For on-site appointments, you will receive a collection kit at the time of your appointment, collect your sample on site in a private, soundproof collection room, and hand it in immediately afterwards.
You will need a completed, signed, and dated requisition that is no more than 6 months old. To qualify for coverage where applicable, you will also need a valid provincial health card, Blue Cross card, or IFH documentation. If you do not have eligible coverage, payment is required.
For a drop-off appointment, you receive a collection kit beforehand, collect your sample at home within an hour of your appointment, and drop it off to the designated FlowLabs location.
For an on-site appointment, you receive the collection kit at the time of your appointment, collect your sample on site in a private, soundproof collection room and hand it in immediately
At the bottom of your appointment confirmation email, you will find a link allowing you to modify or cancel your appointment online. We kindly ask that any changes be made at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment are subject to a $50 fee.
If you can’t find your confirmation email, or are cancelling or rescheduling within 24 hours of your appointment time, please contact us at 416-581-0000.
Please arrive as close as possible to your scheduled appointment time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes before or more than 15 minutes after your appointment, we may not be able to accommodate you and you may need to reschedule.
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment are subject to a $50 fee. If you anticipate being late, please contact us at 416-581-0000 as soon as possible.
Please bring:
If you have booked a drop-off appointment, bring your sealed sample in the biohazard bag included with your collection kit and include the completed drop-off collection checklist and original, doctor-signed requisition in the side pocket of the bag.
The requisition code can be found in the top right corner of the requisition form. You’ll need this when you register and upload your requisition.
You can find full instructions for sample collection here.
You can pick up a collection kit at any FlowLabs location during operating hours without an appointment. Courier delivery is also available for a fee. Please allow 2 to 3 business days for delivery.
You must abstain from any form of ejaculation for 2–5 days, but no more than 7 days, before you collect your sample on the day of your appointment.
Yes, but you must purchase a non-toxic condom from a FlowLabs location. Standard condoms must not be used for semen collection because they contain agents that kill sperm. If you need to collect a sample by intercourse, you can book a drop-off appointment and purchase a non-toxic condom to use for sample collection.
If you collect a sample in this type of condom, drop the whole condom into one of our sterile containers and bring it to the selected FlowLabs location at your appointment time.
No. Lubricants, oil and lotions must not be used to aid in the collection, as they may be toxic to sperm.
Samples must be collected at home within the hour before your scheduled appointment time, kept at body temperature, and dropped off at a FlowLabs location at your appointment time. If extenuating circumstances prolong your delivery time, please drop the sample off as close to the hour as possible. Prolonged delivery time and temperature changes can impact your test results and may cause your sample to be rejected.
Please note that drop-off is by appointment only and must be booked in advance. On-site collection appointments are also available for those who live more than one hour away from a FlowLabs location.
Yes. All drop-off appointments must be booked in advance through the patient portal. We do not accept walk-ins or make appointments over the phone.
Male fertility care is an often under-addressed aspect of the fertility journey, but it doesn’t have to be! We recommend getting tested as early as possible if you are thinking about having children now or in the future, as it will give you a good picture of your reproductive health. The lifecycle of a sperm cell is 70 to 90 days, so it takes around 3 months to impact sperm quality. The earlier you get tested, the earlier you can get started with any recommended treatments or lifestyle changes.
Male fertility testing might also be also recommended by a physician or fertility specialist if you’ve been trying to conceive and have been unsuccessful.
Yes. Semen analysis is one of the primary tests used to evaluate male fertility and is typically one of the first steps in the testing process. DNA Fragmentation Index testing is often recommended alongside semen analysis to provide the most comprehensive evaluation of sperm health.
Unlike general labs, our team is dedicated specifically to male reproductive health, allowing us to provide more comprehensive and accurate testing. Our semen analysis includes additional parameters not routinely assessed by many general laboratories, including anti-sperm antibody (ASA) testing.
FlowLabs also offers advanced testing such as DNA fragmentation (SCSA) and DNA fragmentation, sperm aneuploidy analysis, post-ejaculation urine testing, and post-vasectomy testing. FlowLabs is also the only commercial lab in Ontario currently offering sperm aneuploidy testing and DNA fragmentation.
Once your sample arrives at the lab, results are typically sent to your referring clinician within the following timeframes:
If you are registered for MyChart, results will be available at the same time.
Once available, we send your results to your referring clinician. To access your results online, you can register for MyChart, a secure patient portal operated by Sunnybrook Hospital:
Patients without OHIP coverage can request to pick up a physical copy of their results from their ordering clinician. FlowLabs is not authorized to release any results directly to patients except through MyChart.
FlowLabs provides laboratory testing and reports results to your referring clinician. Because treatment recommendations and interpretation depend on your medical history and overall health, results should be reviewed with your clinician. If you do not currently have a clinician supporting your fertility journey, you may wish to book a consultation through FlowTelehealth or another telehealth service to discuss your results and next steps.
Yes, semen analysis is covered by OHIP with a valid health card and a signed requisition from a licensed healthcare practitioner. If you don’t have a requisition, you can download a blank requisition form for your healthcare practitioner to complete, or book a virtual consultation through FlowTelehealth to get one.
Patients from other provinces are welcome to book a semen analysis with FlowLabs. However, testing is only covered when the requisition is signed by an Ontario-licensed clinician. If your requisition is from an out-of-province practitioner, you will need to pay for testing out of pocket, or obtain an Ontario requisition in order to be covered.
If you do not have an Ontario requisition, patients in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces can obtain one through FlowTelehealth. Patients in BC, Quebec, Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories can obtain a requisition through a national telehealth provider such as TELUS Health MyCare, Maple, or Tia Health. Please note that even with a valid requisition, patients in these provinces/territories will need to pay for testing at FlowLabs unless they obtain a requisition from an Ontario clinician.
Testing may be eligible for reimbursement through private insurance, depending on your plan.
If you have questions about coverage or eligibility, please contact us before booking.
Coverage varies depending on the test. Some advanced testing services may require out-of-pocket payment.
No. OHIP only covers lab testing ordered by a physician or nurse practitioner, so tests referred by a naturopathic doctor are paid out of pocket. However, some extended health plans cover naturopath-ordered testing. Please note that if you are being referred to us from a naturopath, you’ll need a different type of requisition.