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Accuracy of computer-assisted semen analysis in prefreeze and post-thaw specimens with high and low sperm counts and
R S Sidhu1, R K Sharma, J C Lee
1Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Objectives:
We evaluated the accuracy and precision of computer-assisted semen analysis (CASAs) to determine whether variations in the CASA results were related to the type of analyzer or to the type of specimens analyzed.
Methods:
Semen specimens were analyzed manually and by CASA before freezing and after thawing. Multiple ejaculates (220 semen specimens) from normal healthy donors (n = 8) and 131 semen specimens from 57 patients with cancer were assessed.
Results:
The differences between CASA and manual sperm counts and percent motility were higher in prefreeze and post-thaw specimens at sperm concentrations of less than 20 x 10(6)/mL. The differences between CASA and manual results were significant for cancer patients, compared with normal donors (P <0.01).
Conclusions:
CASA results are unreliable at sperm counts of less than 20 x 10(6)/mL and post-thaw motility is generally underestimated by CASAs.