What is the purpose of semen presumptive testing and name one common example?

• A. To determine if semen is viable for reproduction
• B. To screen for semen presence to prioritize confirmatory testing; acid phosphatase test
• C. To measure semen volume
• D. To identify donor DNA

Answer: (B)

Presumptive semen testing is used to quickly screen a sample for the presence of semen so that laboratories can decide which samples need more specific, confirmatory analysis. A common example is the acid phosphatase test, which detects the enzyme acid phosphatase that is abundant in semen and produces a color change when present. This allows rapid screening, but it isn’t definitive, since other substances can sometimes yield a positive result. Positive findings are then followed by more specific confirmatory tests, such as PSA immunoassay or direct microscopic visualization of sperm. The test isn’t about viability, semen volume, or identifying the donor’s DNA; those require different analyses.