title: Concordance among sperm deoxyribonucleic acid integrity assays and semen parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the concordance of sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) results, epifluorescence TUNEL assay results, and standard semen parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral andrology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 212 men evaluated for subfertility by a single physician.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical history, physical examination, semen analysis, SCSA, and TUNEL assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (r) between SCSA DNA fragmentation index (DFI), percentage TUNEL-positive sperm, and semen analysis parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive correlation between SCSA DFI and TUNEL (r = 0.31), but the strength of this correlation was weaker than has previously been reported. The discordance rate between SCSA and TUNEL in classifying patients as normal or abnormal was 86 of 212 (40.6%). The SCSA DFI was moderately negatively correlated with sperm concentration and motility. The TUNEL results were unrelated to standard semen parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SCSA DFI and percentage TUNEL-positive sperm are moderately correlated measures of sperm DNA integrity but yield different results in a large percentage of patients. The DFI is well-correlated with semen analysis parameters, whereas TUNEL is not. These data indicate that the SCSA and TUNEL assay measure different aspects of sperm DNA integrity and should not be used interchangeably.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Electronic address: ps2192@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Chava
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Akanksha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolyakov
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Darius A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Paduch
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000592:standards; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: DNA fragmentation; in situ nick-end labeling; infertility (male); semen analysis; spermatozoa