title: Pilot surveys for proficiency testing of semen analysis. Comparison of dry-ice vs liquid nitrogen shipments.
abstract: Two pilot surveys involving routine semen analysis were provided to eight and nine selected laboratories. The laboratories were selected for expertise and geographic diversity. Manual and computer-assisted semen analysis were performed by the participating laboratories on pooled cryopreserved human semen samples following shipment either on dry-ice pellets or in liquid nitrogen (dry shippers). Coefficient of variation values obtained were 13% to 39% for concentration, 19% to 127% for motility, and 42% to 90% for viability. Motility was impaired for sperm shipped on dry ice. However, variances and performance criteria can be established for all analyses. A semen analysis survey is feasible but expensive owing to the shipping costs of cryopreserved semen.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004367:Dry Ice; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012661:Semen; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004367:Dry Ice; D009584:Nitrogen