A continuous quality control program for strict sperm morphology.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a training program with intervals of continuous quality control assessments for the evaluation of strict sperm morphology.


METHODS
Prospective analytical study.


METHODS
Academic hospital and academic institution setting.


METHODS
Healthy sperm donors.


METHODS
Nine individual andrology laboratories in Switzerland were invited to participate in a training course for strict sperm morphology, which was followed up every 3 months by a continuous quality control program. Each laboratory received six slides over a period of 9 months, during which time the results were forwarded to the reference laboratory. Papanicolaou stain sperm slides were prepared and shipped to participating laboratories every 3 months.


METHODS
Percentage of normal spermatozoa.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-SE) percentage of normal sperm reported by the reference laboratory compared with the participating laboratories for slides 1-6 were 11. 4 +/- 1.6 vs. 17.3 +/- 6 (P>.2), 6.0 +/- 1.3 vs. 8.6 +/- 2.5 (P>.2), 9.0 +/- 0 vs. 9.6 +/- 3 (P>.2), 1 +/- 0 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.2 (P>.2), 23.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 28.0 +/- 1.3 (P>.2), and 2.0 +/- 0 vs. 6.1 +/- 1.2 (P>.2), respectively. Technician proficiency was reported to differ by <10% from the reference laboratory in 94% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The results illustrate that training and proficiency testing can be conducted on a national and international level with the support of a reference laboratory. Global quality control measurements in andrology laboratories should become mandatory, since these results indicate that continuous quality control for laboratory technicians can be successful.
Franken
D R
DR
Reproductive Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa. drf@gerga.sun.ac.za
Barendsen
R
R
Kruger
T F
TF
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011786:Quality Control; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000592:standards*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013557:Switzerland