Semen analysis with CASAnova®

CASAnova®

Computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) is a powerful tool for semen evaluation in andrology and animal breeding. High precision under standard conditions and the objective documentation of semen quality are important advantages over manual methods up to now used in practice. Most commercially available CASA-systems evaluate sperm motility by traditional analysis using phase contrast or negative phase contrast microscopy. We developed a novel CASA-system which is completely based on fluorescence techniques, thus analyzing sperm concentration, motility and indicators of maturation in a one step procedure. For fluorescense exitation the microscope is fitted with a long-living LED-illuminator (Fig. 1). Sperm are stained with a fluorescent dye (Fig. 2) and movements are monitored under a microscope and recorded via a digital camera connected to a personal computer. Records are analyzed with a recently developed software module (CASAnova®).

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Fig. 1: Microscope
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Phase-contrast
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Fig. 2: Fluorescence
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The novel CASA-system was validated by comparative analysis (Fig. 3) using manual counting with a hemocyto-meter and automatic analysis with a traditional CASA-system and software (CMA - Cell-Motion-Analyzer). Compared to CASA-CMA, the values obtained by CASAnova® are closer to those of hemocytometer (gold-standard).

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Fig. 3: method comparison
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For further information please contact: semen.analysis@amplab.de