Development of a Validation Protocol for Laboratory Personnel Training in Sperm Analysis and Cryopreservation(brief report)

Background and objectives: Semen cryopreservation is widely used in assisted reproduction techniques, and reliable semen analysis is essential to define the clinical practice. However, many parameters used for semen evaluation have high variability among technicians. Here, we describe a method of validating semen analysis prior to cryopreservation, comparing each operator’s results with an expert, and also analyzing inter-operator variability. As a second endpoint, we compare this method by analyzing semen parameters before and after cryopreservation. Methods: Four professional trainees studied and practiced semen analysis according to the World Health Organization guidelines for one month, under supervision of an expert in the field. Next, microscopic results (sperm concentration, motility, vitality, and morphology) obtained by each team member were compared with the findings obtained by the expert.. Finally, analyzes of inter-operators were evaluated for the same parameters. Results: The findings obtained by the operators and the expert did not differ significantly. Furthermore, in the inter-operator analysis, the morphology parameter differed significantly in the fresh semen sample, which was not observed in the post-thaw sample. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the laboratory staff training for semen analysis was effective, ensuring the assessment of individual performance and uniformity among operators in sperm count parameters, producing consistent results.