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Evaluation of Hamilton-Thorn automated semen analysis system
E M Kolibianakis1, B C Tarlatzis, J Bontis
11st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Insights
The HT M-2030 system (CASA) offers a reliable alternative for semen analysis. Proper calibration ensures accurate sperm concentration and motility measurements comparable to subjective methods.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Andrology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Conventional semen analysis relies on subjective assessment, introducing variability.
- Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) systems aim to provide objective and reproducible results.
- The HT M-2030 is a CASA system requiring evaluation against established methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare sperm concentration and motility measurements from the HT M-2030 CASA system with subjective semen analysis (SSA).
- To evaluate different calibration settings for the HT M-2030 system to optimize accuracy.
- To assess the system's performance under various conditions, including sperm clumping.
Main Methods:
- Sperm samples were analyzed using the HT M-2030 CASA system and SSA.
- Multiple calibration settings for gates, discriminators, default pixel count (DPC), and default intensity (DI) were tested.
- Correlation coefficients (r) and mean differences were calculated to compare CASA and SSA values.
Main Results:
- The M calibration setting demonstrated the best correlation between CASA and SSA for sperm concentration (r = .96) and motility (r = .89).
- Approximately 35% of sperm concentration and 34% of motility values obtained by CASA were within 10% of SSA values.
- LI calibration (DPC=4, DI=86) with M calibration provided acceptable results, with minor deviations for concentration (+2.1 x 10^6/mL) and motility (-6.9%).
- Sperm clumping affected CASA accuracy, altering sperm concentration differences but reducing motility differences compared to normal samples.
Conclusions:
- The HT M-2030 CASA system, when properly calibrated (e.g., M or LI calibration), provides objective and reliable sperm concentration and motility data.
- This system can serve as a rapid and accurate alternative to traditional subjective semen analysis for routine and research applications.
- Careful calibration is crucial for minimizing discrepancies between CASA and SSA, especially in the presence of sperm clumping.
Abstract:
Sperm concentration and percentage motility values generated by the HT M-2030 system (CASA) were compared with those obtained by subjective semen analysis (SSA). Three calibrations arbitrarily designated as A, M, and D for gates and discriminators and three calibrations arbitrarily designated LI, MI, and HI for default pixel count (DPC) and default intensity (DI) were evaluated. The best correlation between CASA and SSA was observed utilizing M calibration (n = 114) with which sperm concentration was +0.3 x 10(6)/mL (r = .96) and motility was -6.3% (r = .89) compared to the values obtained by SSA. It was found that 35.9% of sperm concentration values and 34.2% of sperm motility values were within 10% of the values obtained by SSA. When sperm concentration was between 50 and 100 x 10(6)/mL the difference in motility was reduced (-3.2%) while the difference in sperm concentration was reversed (-2.6 x 10(6)/mL). LI calibration (DPC = 4, DI = 86) gave acceptable results with M calibration for sperm concentration (+2.1 x 10(6)/mL) and motility (-6.9%) compared to the values obtained by SSA. In the presence of sperm clumping, the difference between CASA and SSA was reversed for sperm concentration (+0.56 x 10(6)/mL for normal samples vs. -2.2 x 10(6)/mL for samples with clumping) and was reduced for sperm motility (-7.14% vs. -4.55%, respectively). HT M-2030 under proper calibration can be used as a rapid, objective, and reliable alternative to conventional semen analysis in routine and for research purposes.