THE SIMPLE VERSION
With an at-home test, you collect a semen sample in private and mail it overnight to a lab, which checks it for DNA damage. The kit is designed to protect the sample on the way. It makes testing easier, but it doesn’t replace a conversation with a clinician about whether you need the test and what your result means.
How at-home DNA fragmentation testing works
The steps are much the same with every provider:
- Order a kit. It comes with a collection cup and return packaging. Some kits include a liquid that protects the sample.
- Collect at home. Follow the kit’s instructions on how long to wait since you last ejaculated. Legacy, for example, asks for 2–5 days.
- Ship it the same day. Kits go back overnight. Some providers, including Legacy, ask you to collect and ship Monday to Thursday.
- Get your results online once the lab has tested the sample.
Does mailing a sample affect the results?
Sperm start to change after ejaculation. That’s why mail-in kits use protective liquids, insulated packaging and overnight shipping. Some lab methods, such as SCSA, were designed to work on frozen samples.2
A kit that works well for a semen analysis isn’t automatically proven for DNA fragmentation. If this matters to you, ask the provider what evidence supports its kit for the DNA fragmentation result.
Your at-home DNA fragmentation test options
after the lab receives the sample
from mailing your sample to your result
after the lab receives the sample
Fellow’s test will be ordered through clinics in every state except New York, and is expected before the end of 2026. See the full comparison.
We have a commercial relationship with SwimScore. Disclosure
What to look for in an at-home test
- A certified lab. All four providers we compare say they use CLIA-certified labs.
- A named method. Legacy names its method (SCD), and SwimScore told us it uses SCD too. Sapyen and Fellow don’t name theirs. If your clinician needs a specific method, ask before you order.
- A semen analysis too. Count, movement and shape give your DNA fragmentation result useful context.
- How results time is counted. Most providers count from when the lab gets your sample; Sapyen counts from mailing. Add shipping time either way.
- Help with your results. Look for a doctor review, a clear report or an easy way to share it with your own clinician.
When to talk to a clinician about at-home testing
At-home testing makes collection easier. It doesn’t replace a medical evaluation.
Guidelines differ on who should be tested. It’s most often discussed after repeated miscarriage, infertility with no clear cause or fertility treatment that hasn’t worked.13 Our primer covers this in more detail.
Common questions about at-home DNA fragmentation tests
Is an at-home test as good as a clinic test?
It depends mostly on the lab method and how well the sample is protected in transit. If that matters to you, ask the provider what data supports its kit for the DNA fragmentation result.
Do I need a doctor’s order for an at-home test?
Not for SwimScore, Legacy or Sapyen. You can order them online. Fellow’s test will be ordered through clinics.
How long until I get results?
It varies. SwimScore says 2–3 business days and Legacy 24–48 hours after the lab gets your sample. Sapyen says up to 10 business days from mailing. Add shipping time.
SCIENTIFIC SOURCES
- Agarwal A, Majzoub A, Baskaran S, et al. Sperm DNA fragmentation: a new guideline for clinicians. World J Mens Health. 2020;38(4):412–471. doi:10.5534/wjmh.200128
- Evenson DP. The Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA®) and other sperm DNA fragmentation tests for evaluation of sperm nuclear DNA integrity as related to fertility. Anim Reprod Sci. 2016;169:56–75. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.01.017
- Schlegel PN, Sigman M, Collura B, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men: AUA/ASRM guideline part I. J Urol. 2021;205(1):36–43. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000001521