title: Standards in reporting cryopreserved donor sperm characteristics: should they be reported post-thaw or post-wash?
abstract: An increase in the reliance on imported donor samples has been the consequence of a continued shortage of UK donors. Disputes can arise between suppliers and purchasers if the sperm quality is not as expected, yet there appears to be no requirement for the standardization of methods for sperm processing or analysis. Following analysis of 102 donor intrauterine insemination cycles, this study demonstrates that the motile sperm concentration is significantly (P < 0.05) reduced after the necessary removal of cryoprotectant before insemination. Suppliers of donor spermatozoa should therefore provide information on standards used for sperm assessment and whether analysis is performed before or after washing in order that purchasers are better informed about the quality of the end product they are committed to buying.
authors.affiliation: Fertility Unit, East block B Floor, Nottingham University Hospital, Derby Road, Nottingham, UK; School of Medicine, Division Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, D Floor, East Block, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. Electronic address: mathew.tomlinson@nuh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Mathew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: Fertility Unit, East block B Floor, Nottingham University Hospital, Derby Road, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Estel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comajuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, First floor, Block A, Sector E-9, Air University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.affiliation: Fertility Unit, East block B Floor, Nottingham University Hospital, Derby Road, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pooley
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents
keywords: cryopreservation; donor sperm; quality assurance; semen parameters