title: A comparative study of the EpiScreen kit and a conventional method for the determination of seminal alpha-glucosidase activity.
abstract: Low alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma is a marker of epididymal obstruction. The criterion standard for determining activity is the epididymal specific method, whereby the neutral iso-enzyme, specifically produced by the epididymis, is measured. A kit that determines total alpha-glucosidase activity (neutral iso-enzyme and the acid iso-enzyme originating from the prostate) has become available. The objective of the laboratory-based study was to compare alpha-glucosidase activity values measured by both the EpiScreen and the epididymal specific method, to determine if the kit may provide reliable results to substitute the neutral iso-enzyme specific method in the routine clinical setting. The neutral iso-enzyme activity according to both methods was measured in seminal plasma of 23 post-vasectomy and 24 normozoospermic patients. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the activities measured according to both methods, but these differences pertained mostly to high values (> 40 mU ejaculate-1), which was not clinically significant. In conclusion, the epididymal specific method is best suited for research purposes, but the EpiScreen kit is convenient for routine use in infertility clinics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bornman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viljoen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004822:Epididymis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D014659:Vasectomy; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases