title: Comparison of two methods for the measurement of sperm concentration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of both the hemocytometer and the MicroCell, to evaluate which method is the most reliable, and to confirm the accuracy of latex beads as an internal standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective procedural assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based infertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-five male sexual partners of women undergoing screening for infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm and latex bead concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sperm concentration values obtained with the hemocytometer were highly correlated with those obtained from the MicroCell (r = 0.88). The mean value of the latex beads concentration was closer to the standard value using the hemocytometer than the MicroCell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the hemocytometer and the MicroCell are suitable as screening techniques to measure sperm concentration. Fixed suspensions of latex beads serve as reliable internal quality control standards.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA. rsokol@hsc.usc.edu
authors.forename: R Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Paulson
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012015:Reference Standards; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric