Validation of SwimCountTM, a Novel Home-Based Device That Detects Progressively Motile Spermatozoa: Correlation with World Health Organization 5th Semen Analysis

Abstract

KoreaPurpose: We evaluated the usefulness of a home-based device (SwimCountTM) compared with World Health Organization (WHO) 5th semen analysis in screening for male fertility in Asian men.Materials and Methods: One hundred Asian men who visited CHA Seoul Station Fertility Center for evaluation of fertility were included. Semen samples were analyzed and compared with the SwimCountTM results. An aliquot of 0.5 mL of the semen sample was added to the SwimCountTM and a WHO 5th semen analysis was performed. Results were categorized as low (<5×106/mL), and normal to high (≥5×106/mL) total progressively motile sperm concentration. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the SwimCountTM.Results: The mean total progressively motile sperm concentration was 26.7×106/mL. Semen analysis revealed that 28% of the samples were below the threshold count of 5 million/mL total progressively motile sperm concentration. The mean total progressively motile sperm concentration of the light color SwimCountTM result group determined by semen analysis was 7.5×106/mL, and the mean total progressively motile sperm concentration of the moderate to dark color SwimCountTM result group was 34.2×106/mL. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.77–0.94; p<0.001) was obtained when the SwimCountTM was compared with semen analysis. The sensitivity and specificity were obtained at a cut off value of 5.0×106/mL total progressively motile sperm concentration, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 73.4%.Conclusions: We confirmed the reliability of the SwimCountTM as a home-based device for male fertility by evaluating the total progressively motile sperm concentration.

Keywords

• fertility
• spermatozoa
• sperm count
• sperm motility