Ama. Mahmoud et al., THE PERFORMANCE OF 10 DIFFERENT METHODS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF SPERM CONCENTRATION, Fertility and sterility, 68(2), 1997, pp. 340-345
Objective: To evaluate the performance of different methods of sperm c
ounting using latex beads and sperm suspension. Design: A quality-cont
rol study. Setting: University-based andrology laboratory. Interventio
n(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Counting latex beads six times in
two standard suspensions using 10 methods and counting spermatozoa wi
th 4 methods. Result(s): When air-displacement pipettes were used, the
disposable chambers Standard Count (Leja, Amsterdam, Holland), Cellvi
sion (Anthos-ec, Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands), and Cell Vu (Fertili
ty Technologies, Inc. Natick, MA) showed small variation and correct e
stimation of bead concentration. All the reusable chambers gave relati
vely large variability, with tendency to underestimate (improved Neuba
uer; Hawksley, Lancing, United Kingdom) or to overestimate the bead co
ncentration. The use of plunger-displacement pipettes resulted in an o
verestimation of bead concentration in medium but not in seminal plasm
a. Counting the sperm suspension using plunger-displacement pipettes i
ndicated that the Burker hemocytometer overestimated concentration rel
ative to that obtained by Cellvision and Makler Counting Chambers (Sef
i Medical Instruments, Haifa, Israel) and that the improved Neubauer p
resented the lowest variability (7.1%). Conclusion(s): The improved Ne
ubauer hemocytometer is the standard for sperm counting, though dispos
able chambers give reliable results as well. If beads are used to eval
uate the accuracy of counting chambers, it is recommended to dilute th
em with seminal plasma. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive
Medicine.