title: Semenology training programs: 8 years' experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immediate effect of hands-on training on the quality of technical skills of laboratory technicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic institutions and private infertility clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten laboratory technicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, 110 participants from 16 African countries attended 5-day semenology workshops at Tygerberg Hospital. During these workshops the methodology as described by the World Health Organization manual for the analysis of human semen, namely, sperm concentration, motility, vitality, and morphology, formed part of the curriculum. Second, two experienced morphology readers from the Tygerberg group presented 23 1-day sperm morphology workshops in nine other countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The semenology workshops indicated a significant improvement in the evaluation of sperm concentration only, whereas pretraining and posttraining results for motility did not differ. Vitality reports did not differ from those of the experienced worker in the first place. Calculation by means of a linear regression model showed a significant decrease in the mean posttraining scores from the pretraining scores for the sperm morphology courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training improved technical skills for the evaluation of morphology and sperm concentration. The evaluation of graded sperm motility seems to be more difficult to teach over a short period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa. drf@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Franken
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aneck-Hahn
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombaard
authors.forename: Thinus F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kruger
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D033441:Andrology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D048430:Cell Shape; D048429:Cell Size; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors