Abstract

ARIAGNO, Julia Irene; CHENLO, Patricia; CURI, Susana Mercedes  and  MENDELUK, Gabriela. El laboratorio de fertilidad masculina, su evolución en los últimos 20 años. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2024, vol.58, n.1, pp.3-3. ISSN 0325-2957.

Increasing availability to assisted reproduction (AR) treatments in Argentina and advances in cryobiology resulted in changes in andrology laboratories. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demand and evolution of seminal variables in the last two decades, characterise the current andrology laboratory, evaluate the impact of the incorporation of quality assurance and the introduction of computer assisted semen analysis (CASA). Data were taken from internal quality control (IQC) monthly means (n=22 528) and professionals in charge of laboratories (n=65) and fertility physicians’ (n=33) surveys. Overall demand decreased significantly while first-time orders increased. Sperm volume and sperm count –androgen dependent parameters– decreased over the years. Strict morphology criteria reduced the percentage of normal results; half of the physicians received results between 0 and 10% and 40% considered that it compromised the clinical value of the variable. The CASA system made it possible to objectify sperm kinetic, increasing the percentage of fast progressives, but few laboratories have incorporated it. Sixty-six percent of physicians resolve severe andrological factor by clinical treatments and 95% use AR techniques in those cases. Semen analysis is mainly performed by specialised biochemists, with low adherence to laboratory automatisation and accreditation, but with participation in external quality assessment programmes. The demand decreased because of the increase in AR treatment. The lower percentage of normal forms compromises their clinical utility.

Keywords : Semen analysis; Computer assisted semen analysis; Male fertility laboratory; Andrology; External quality control programmes.

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