A rapid screening technique for the detection of spermatozoa

Phase contrast microscopy has been used for some time to search for and identify spermatozoa. An enhancement to the technique using xylene in conjuction with phase contrast microscopy is discussed. The method has been found to save time by allowing identification of spermatozoa with xylene-enhanced phase contrast microscopy in many cases that would have been unsuccessful using the normal "dry" phase contrast microscopy techniques. This eliminates a staining and reexamination step.