External quality control program for semen analysis: Spanish experience.
OBJECTIVE
Results from an external quality control programme for semen analysis carried out in Spain are analysed.


METHODS
Quality control materials were distributed and the following seminal parameters were determined: concentration, total motility, progressive motility, rapid progressive motility, morphology and sperm vitality. The between-laboratories coefficients of variation were assessed on different types of quality control material.


RESULTS
The majority of participating laboratories utilised manual versus computer-assisted semen analysis methods. Some between-laboratories coefficients of variation ranges were: 20.8-33.8% for concentration (semen pool suspension); 13.9-19.2% for total motility (videotapes); 54.2-70.2% for sperm morphology (strict criteria using stained smears); and 9.8-41.1% for sperm vitality (stained smears). There was an inverse relation between mean percentage of sperm and coefficients of variation between laboratories for sperm motility, morphology and vitality.


CONCLUSIONS
These data highlight the urgent need for improvement in the overall quality of andrology testing.
Alvarez
C
C
Health Sciences Department, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. calvarez@ujaen.es
Castilla
J A
JA
Ramírez
J P
JP
Vergara
F
F
Yoldi
A
A
Fernández
A
A
Gaforio
J J
JJ
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility