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External quality control program for semen analysis: Spanish experience

  • Andrology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose: Results from an external quality control programme for semen analysis carried out in Spain are analysed.

Methods: Quality control materials were distributed and the following seminal parameters were determined: concentration, total motility, progressive motility, rapid progressive motility, morphology and sperm vitality. The between-laboratories coefficients of variation were assessed on different types of quality control material.

Results: The majority of participating laboratories utilised manual versus computer-assisted semen analysis methods. Some between-laboratories coefficients of variation ranges were: 20.8–33.8% for concentration (semen pool suspension); 13.9–19.2% for total motility (videotapes); 54.2–70.2% for sperm morphology (strict criteria using stained smears); and 9.8–41.1% for sperm vitality (stained smears). There was an inverse relation between mean percentage of sperm and coefficients of variation between laboratories for sperm motility, morphology and vitality.

Conclusions: These data highlight the urgent need for improvement in the overall quality of andrology testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Sciences Department, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    C. Álvarez & J. J. Gaforio

  2. Unit of Reproduction Hospital “Virgen de las Nieves,” Granada, Spain

    J. A. Castilla

  3. Centro de Estudio e Investigación de la Fertilidad (CEIFER), Granada, Spain

    J. P. Ramírez, F. Vergara, A. Yoldi & A. Fernández

  4. Programa de Control de Calidad para Análisis de Semen de la Asociación para el Estudio de la Biología de la Reproducción (ASEBIR), Madrid, Spain

    A. Fernández

  5. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Área de Enfermería, Universidad de Jaén, Edificio B-3 (241), Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    C. Álvarez

Authors
  1. C. Álvarez
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  2. J. A. Castilla
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  3. J. P. Ramírez
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  4. F. Vergara
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  5. A. Yoldi
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  6. A. Fernández
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  7. J. J. Gaforio
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Correspondence to C. Álvarez.

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Álvarez, C., Castilla, J.A., Ramírez, J.P. et al. External quality control program for semen analysis: Spanish experience. J Assist Reprod Genet 22, 379–387 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-005-7461-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-005-7461-2

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