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Risks associated with cryopreserved semen in a human sperm bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Chuan Huang1, Shuai-Feng Zhou2, Li-Dong Gao3
1Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha Hunan 410005, China; Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, ChangshaHunan 410005, China.
Insights
Cryopreserved semen collected during and after the COVID-19 pandemic wave in Wuhan, China, was found to be free of SARS-CoV-2. This indicates that banked semen is safe for future use, mitigating risks associated with the virus.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised concerns about potential virus transmission through various bodily fluids, including semen.
- Understanding the risk of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in cryopreserved semen is crucial for sperm banks and fertility treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in cryopreserved semen samples collected from donors during and after the initial COVID-19 pandemic wave in Wuhan, China.
- To determine the safety of using cryopreserved semen for assisted reproductive technologies.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed 100 paired semen and blood samples from qualified sperm donors.
- Samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using one-step single-tube nested quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (OSN-qRT-PCR).
- To ensure accuracy and control for false negatives, a second screening with crystal digital PCR (cd-PCR) was performed on pooled RNA from negative semen samples.
Main Results:
- All 100 paired blood and semen samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 target genes (N and ORF-1ab) using OSN-qRT-PCR.
- Crystal digital PCR (cd-PCR) analysis of pooled samples also showed no positive droplets for the target genes.
- No SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected in any of the cryopreserved semen samples.
Conclusions:
- Cryopreserved semen samples collected from donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic wave were free of SARS-CoV-2.
- The findings suggest that cryopreserved semen from this period is safe for external use in future fertility treatments.
Research Question:
What are the risks associated with cryopreserved semen collected during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in Wuhan, China?
Design:
Retrospective cohort study involving young adult men who were qualified sperm donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank (China) during the pandemic wave (1 January 2020 to 30 January 2020) and after the wave and return to work (7 April 2020 to 30 May 30 2020). One hundred paired semen and blood specimens from 100 donors were included. One-step single-tube nested quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (OSN-qRT-PCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, to control the unacceptable risk of false-negative results, a second round of screening was performed with pooled RNA from negative semen samples using crystal digital PCR (cd-PCR).
Results:
For individual blood and semen samples, the target genes, namely the nucleocapsid protein (N) and open reading frame (ORF-1ab) genes, tested negative in all of the 100 paired samples. Further, as per cd-PCR results, there were >20,000 droplets per well in the RNA for each combined sample and no positive droplets were present for either of the aforementioned target genes. A total of 100 paired semen and blood samples from these two groups tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions:
Cryopreserved semen at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic wave was free of SARS-CoV-2 and was judged safe for external use in the future.
