Quality assurance for sperm concentration using latex beads.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a simple, universally applicable method of quality assurance for sperm counting, thereby reducing intercounting chamber variation.


METHODS
By using a known concentration of latex beads, the sperm:bead ratio can be used to calculate the actual sperm count.


METHODS
The mean sperm and bead counts were determined in both a Spot-lite hemocytometer (Baxter Diagnostics, McGaw Park, IL) and a Makler chamber (Polymedco Inc., Yorktown, NY) from 21 different ejaculates mixed with a known concentration of beads. The hemocytometer chamber was used as the standard counting chamber because it consistently yielded a low variation in sperm count. The adjusted sperm concentration of the Makler chamber was calculated using the following formula [hemocytometer beads]/[Makler beads] x [Makler sperm].


RESULTS
Observed mean +/- SD sperm counts were significantly different between the hemocytometer chamber (110.6 +/- 66.2 x 10(6)/mL) and Makler chamber (173.3 +/- 103.5 x 10(6)/mL). However, calculated Makler chamber sperm counts (118.1 +/- 76.1 x 10(6)/mL) was not statistically different from observed hemocytometer sperm counts.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel approach to sperm counting using a known concentration of latex beads as a reference material can be used to reduce variation in sperm counting between observers, counting chambers, and possibly computerized sperm analyzers.
Peters
A J
AJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Zaneveld
L J
LJ
Jeyendran
R S
RS
D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D007840:Latex