Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 24

Proteolytic enzymes may be added to semen specimens to:

A. Increase the viscosity

B. Dilute the specimen

C. Decrease the viscosity

D. Neutralize the specimen

Step 1 of 2

Proteolytic enzymes:

The proteolytic enzyme is an enzyme group, which is used to break the large chain molecules of proteins into tiny fragments.

• The proteolytic enzyme is used in semen liquefaction process.

o Liquefaction is the process of liquefying the semen.

o Generally, a fresh specimen (semen) is thickened; it should be liquefied within the period of 30 to 60 minutes.

o If the semen specimen is not liquefied for more than 60 minutes, then the proteolytic enzymes have been added to provoke liquefaction by decreasing the viscosity of semen specimens.

Therefore, the proteolytic enzymes have been added to semen specimen to “decrease the viscosity” of the semen specimen. Hence, the correct answer is option.