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Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 5, 1018-1022, May 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Inter-individual variability in the morphological assessment of human sperm: effect of the level of experience and the use of standard methods

F. Eustache and J. Auger1

Service de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, 75014 Paris, France

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Laboratoire d’Histologie, Biologie de la Reproduction, CECOS, and Groupe d’Etude de la Fertilité Humaine (GREFH), Université Paris V, Pavillon Cassini, Hôpital Cochin, 123 Bd de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France. e-mail: jacques.auger{at}cch.ap-hop-paris.fr

BACKGROUND: The assessment of human sperm morphology is not devoid of methodological problems, making comparison among laboratories difficult. The main goal of this study was to assess how the experience and compliance to the recommended procedures can modulate it. METHODS: Sixty-two technicians and biologists of varying degrees of andrological experience classified the same 100 sperm in a blind study from images captured on a video microscope and projected onto a screen. David’s morphology classification which distinguishes normal and abnormal sperm and calculates a Multiple Anomalies Index (MAI) was used. These sperm were also classified by two trained and experienced biologists using videotaped images to provide reference values. RESULTS: The inter-participant coefficient of variation was 40% for normal sperm, lower for five defects and, 12% for MAI. Experienced participants had the closest results to the reference values. Moreover, participants not routinely using the recommended methodologies, regardless of their experience level, consistently showed marked differences compared with the reference values. CONCLUSIONS: The present data confirm the wide variability in the assessment of normal sperm and show a lower variability for several anomalies and MAI. They underscore the role that experience plays and the importance of following the recommended methodologies for relevant and comparable results.

Key words: multiple anomalies index/quality control/routine semen analysis


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