The development of a continuous quality control programme for strict sperm morphology among sub-Saharan African laboratories.
Inter-technician and between-laboratory differences, especially during the evaluation of sperm morphology, have been a major cause of concern. The study aimed to develop an intensive training programme with intervals of continuous quality control assessments for sperm morphology. Twenty andrology laboratories from sub-Saharan Africa were invited to participate in a World Health Organization Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction semenology workshop. Following intensive training in strict sperm morphololgy evaluation, a continuous quality control programme was introduced on a quarterly basis. At baseline, the mean (+/- SD) percentage difference reported between the participants and the reference laboratory reading was 33.50 +/- 11%. After training, the mean percentage difference had decreased to 14.32 +/- 5% at 3 months and to 5.00 +/- 5% at 6 months. Pairwise comparison of the differences at each evaluation time revealed the following: Baseline differences (pre-training) differed significantly from the differences at 3 months (P = 0.0002) as well as at 6 months after training (P = 0.007). The differences at 6 months did not differ significantly from those at 3 months (P = 0.27). Training of andrology technicians as well as continuous proficiency testing can be conducted on a national and international level with the support of a referring laboratory. Global quality control measurements in andrology laboratories should become mandatory, since these results indicate that continuous quality control for laboratory technicians can be highly successful.
Franken
D R
DR
Reproductive Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19058, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
Smith
M
M
Menkveld
R
R
Kruger
T F
TF
Sekadde-Kigondu
C
C
Mbizvo
M
M
Akande
E O
EO
D000352:Africa, Northern; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development; D011786:Quality Control; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*