OBJECTIVETo assess the differences between the main parameters obtained by sperm quality analyzer V (SQA-V) and computer-aided sperm analysis system (CASA), and to investigate their application to sperm quality analysis for fertile and infertile men.

METHODSTwelve fresh semen samples from fertile volunteers and 73 from infertility patients were detected with SQA-V and CASA for sperm concentration and motility, the percentage and concentration of motile sperm, sperm motility index (SMI), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), beat cross frequency (BCF), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN = VSL/VCL) and straightness (STR = VSL/VAP). The correlation between the parameters obtained by the two devices were analyzed.

RESULTSSignificant differences were observed in the above parameters between the fertile and infertile groups. An obvious consistency was noted between the results from SQA-V and those from CASA in sperm concentration (r = 0.58, P < 0.01), motile sperm concentration (r = 0.75, P < 0.01) and average sperm velocity (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). Significant correlations were found between the SMI from SQA-V and STR, LIN, BCF, VCL, VSL and VAP from CASA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a consistency between the results from SQA-V and those from CASA. Both the devices can detect the seminal differences between different cohorts of patients.