Experiences with the electronic spermcounter in andrologic routine work.

Evaluation of semen samples is a time consuming process, which can be facilitated significantly by means of the electronic spermcounter. The device represents a microcomputer system operating with three main functions: Counter function, morphologic function and timer function. In order to quantify the advantages of the electronic apparatus it was compared with a mechanical handheld counter and a mechanical blood-cell counter. Determinations of sperm density and morphologic analysis of stained specimen consumed significantly less time when the sperm counter was used. The advantages of the timer function, while apparent, could not be quantitated and expressed in numbers. The electronic spermcounter makes microscopic evaluations of semen samples faster, easier and more reliable. Thus the device is useful for those dealing routinely with numerous spermiograms, i.e. andrologists, veterinarians and other working in the field of reproduction.