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Quality control workshops in standardization of sperm concentration and motility assessment in multicentre studies

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Author

Summary, in English

Semen quality has been reported to vary markedly between different regions. To properly assess the differences among countries a minimization of the variation among centres in the assessments of sperm quality is essential. We here report on the training and two subsequent follow-up workshops on assessments of sperm concentration and motility. A total of 26 fresh ejaculates were analysed by four persons who were collecting these data in a multicentre study on sperm quality. In addition, two trained technicians from one of the laboratories analysed the samples. At the first training workshop, the median coefficient of variation among centres in sperm concentration was 27.7%, but decreased markedly to 17.0% at the second workshop and 8.1% (P = 0.048) at the third workshop. The CV for evaluation of the proportion of progressive motile sperm decreased less and not statistically significant from 16.5 to 14.1% and 11.0% (P = 0.94). At the third workshop there were no statistical significant differences among centres in assessments of sperm concentration or motility (p > 0.57). Furthermore the coefficient of variation in assessments of sperm concentration and motility among centres were at the same level as between two trained technicians (p > 0.72). This study indicates that training and subsequent follow-up workshops can assure minimum variability among centres in assessments of sperm concentration and motility.

Publishing year

2005

Language

English

Pages

144-149

Publication/Series

International Journal of Andrology

Volume

28

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

Keywords

  • motility
  • variance
  • sperm concentration
  • multicentre studies
  • quality control
  • sperm

Status

Published

Research group

  • Reproductive medicine, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0105-6263