Evaluating an external quality assurance program for semen analysis in China during 2009-2020.
Andrology
; 10(6): 1143-1149, 2022 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35701862
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Semen analysis (SA) plays a key role in guiding treatments of male reproductive diseases and infertility due to male factors; however, it remains challenging to conduct an accurate SA due to lack of standardization, highly subjective assessments, and problems with automated procedures. Therefore, quality assurance (QA) and teaching courses are essential for making the laboratory results more consistent. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
The external quality assurance (EQA) scheme was organized by national human sperm bank technology training bases in Guangdong province in China between 2009 and 2020. Until 2020, 124 laboratories from China participated in the EQA program. The EQA scheme per year has been organized involving two semen aliquots for sperm concentration, two video recordings for motility, and two smears for sperm morphology. All samples used in the EQA scheme were obtained from different healthy donors or patients.RESULTS:
We estimated that the median coefficient of variation (CV) of sperm concentration, ignoring the method used, was 26.6%. Using a 100 µm deep counting chamber led to a decreasing CV of 13.6%. For sperm motility, the median CV of nonprogressive motility was high (50.8%), but the CV of progressive motility (13.2%), immotile sperm (14.3%), and total motility (11.8%) were acceptable. The morphology assessment revealed large variability (44.4%) irrespective of the classification criteria.DISCUSSION:
The reduction of interlaboratory variability is still a challenge during SA in China. Therefore, it is critical to increase awareness of joining EQA schemes and establish standardized training centers to follow WHO-recommended procedures toward Chinese standards.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Sêmen
/
Motilidade dos Espermatozoides
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
Limite:
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Andrology
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China