title: Scoring human sperm morphology using Testsimplets and Diff-Quik slides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare two staining methods to assess sperm morphology: Diff-Quik (DQ), which is the fastest of the recommended techniques, and Testsimplets (TS), a technique that uses prestained slides and is quite popular in in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients at the Sterility Center of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of the Hospital of S.S. Cosma and Damiano (Azienda USL 3 of Pistoia, Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  104 randomly enrolled male patients evaluated by the seminology laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical comparison of sperm morphology results obtained after staining of semen samples both with DQ and TS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data show that TS gives a statistically significantly lower number of normal forms than DQ (median: 6% [range: 0-29%] vs. 12% [range: 0-40%], respectively) as well as an overestimation of sperm head defects (median: 92.0% [range: 67%-100%] vs. 82.3% [range: 55%-100%], respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two staining methods should not be considered equivalent. Specifically, the lower reference limit established by the World Health Organization is not appropriate when sperm morphology is assessed by TS. The routine application of TS in the evaluation of sperm morphology is therefore not recommended because it leads to an overestimation of patients with sperm morphology values below the lower reference limit (4%), thus potentially influencing clinical decisions.
authors: Sterility Center, Obstetric and Gynecology Unit, S.S. Cosma and Damiano Hospital, Pescia, Italy. i.natali@usl3.toscana.it
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Natali
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Muratori
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Sarli
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Vannuccini
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Cipriani
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Niccoli
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Giachini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000473:pathology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic