Biochemia Medica, Vol. 19 No. 1, 2009.
Stručni rad
Sperm morphology assessment according to WHO and strict criteria: method comparison and intra-laboratory variability
Andrea Čipak
; Klinika za ženske bolesti i porode, Klinički bolnički centar "Zagreb", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Patrik Stanić
; Klinika za ženske bolesti i porode, Klinički bolnički centar "Zagreb", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Koraljka Đurić
; Medicinsko biokemijski laboratorij, Poliklinika "Sunce", Zagreb
Tihana Serdar
; Klinički zavod za laboratorijsku dijagnostiku, Klinička bolnica Dubrava, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ernest Suchanek
; Fertility Clinic,Tawam Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Sažetak
Background: Assessment of sperm morphology is one of the most important steps in the evaluation of male partner in infertile couples. However, significant inter- and intra-laboratory variations can cause difficulties in interpretation, misdiagnoses, and consequently lead to confusion. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize these variations to eliminate consequential errors and ensure intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility.
Materials and methods: Semen specimens were obtained from 49 consecutive male patients attending Andrology Laboratory for fertility evaluation. Two sperm morphology assessment criteria were compared: 1) semen smear prepared by Giemsa and assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria; and 2) semen smear prepared by Spermac and assessed by strict criteria. Intra-laboratory comparison of morphological examination was also carried out.
Results: The diagnosis of teratozoospermia by both WHO and strict criteria was concordant in 45 of 49 cases. Intra-rater agreement between the observers was similar for WHO and strict criteria (kappa, 0.700 vs. 0.715).
Conclusions: Morphology assessment by WHO and strict criteria is concordant in diagnosing teratozoospermia and good inter-observer agreement can be achieved after proper training, mindful smear examination and complying with the classification systems.
Ključne riječi
spermatozoa; infertility; male; observer variation
Hrčak ID:
32268
URI
Datum izdavanja:
5.2.2009.
Posjeta: 2.691 *