Seminal Plasma Examination Test Result Agreements Using the WHO Manual Recommendation: With Semi-Automatic and Automatic Methods

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the suitability of the measurement results of neutral alpha-glucosidase and fructose in seminal plasma, between the manual method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) Sixth Edition and the semi-automatic method, using Biosystems BTS 350 and the automatic method using Biosystems A15.Material and Methods: This study involved 47 subjects at the Andrology Outpatient Department of Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital; from October 2022 and February 2023. The measurement of neutral alpha-glucosidase and fructose levels in seminal plasma was conducted, via three different approaches: the manual method, as recommended by the WHO Sixth Edition, the semi-automatic Biosystems BTS 350, and the automatic Biosystems A15. The manual method recommended by the WHO Sixth Edition was employed as the reference system.Results: The average disparity in neutral alpha-glucosidase levels among the manual method, as recommended by the WHO Sixth Edition, compared to the semi-automatic and automatic methods were recorded as: -1.0215 IU/l and -2.3428 IU/l, respectively. Similarly, the fructose levels exhibited differences of -2.1234 mmol/l and 2.2834 mmol/l. Notably, within the method comparisons, 44 values of neutral alpha-glucosidase levels fell within the limit of agreement, while fructose levels showed 44 and 45 values within the agreement limit.Conclusion: The results obtained from the manual method, as recommended by the WHO Sixth Edition, demonstrated agreement with the measurements of neutral alpha-glucosidase and fructose obtained when using both the semi-automatic and automatic methods.