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Development of a simplified method of human semen storage for the testing of sperm DNA fragmentation using the
Ashleigh McEvoy1, Peter Roberts2, Kailin Yap3
1Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; Fertility North, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
Objective:
To develop a simple, convenient, and stable storage method for semen before DNA fragmentation testing.
Design:
Experimental cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Fertility clinic.
Patient(S):
164 male partners of infertile couples.
Intervention(S):
Comparison of sperm DNA fragmentation levels (DFLs) using fresh, snap-frozen and air-dried semen, with air-dried samples stored at different temperatures and time periods to assess DNA stability.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
DFL determined by Halosperm G2 kit.
Result(S):
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. The DFLs from fresh and air-dried semen gave comparable results (1.08% ± 0.65%), and from snap-frozen and fresh samples a statistically significant difference (5.5% ± 1.09%). Air-dried semen stored at room temperature for 7 days had a statistically significantly higher DFL compared with semen stored overnight (46.29% ± 9.12%). Samples stored at 4°C for 7 days or 1 day showed no statistically significant difference (0.83% ± 0.82%). DFLs from samples stored for either 1 or 30 days at 4°C showed a statistically significant difference (19.59% ± 5.72%); those stored at -22°C showed no statistically significant difference (0.68% ± 0.53%).
Conclusion(S):
Air-drying semen is a simple and stable storage method for up to 1 month at -22°C before DNA fragmentation testing.
