Standardization and Quality Control for the Determination of Alpha-Glucosidase in Seminal Plasma

Abstract

We attempted to provide an instruction for the standardization of alpha-glucosidase level determination and quality controls within the same laboratory and among different laboratories. Each of 51 semen samples was divided into two aliquots, centrifuging at 1000 g for 10 min or 3000 g for 15 min. The alpha-glucosidase level and sperm concentration of each sample were assayed. The alpha-glucosidase level in seminal plasma obtained at 3000 g for 15 min centrifugation was significantly lower than that at 1000 g for 10 min (p = 0.001). An additional 6 samples of seminal plasma with or without phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), obtained at 3000 g for 15 min centrifugation, were frozen for 20 days, and each of 6 samples was determined for their alpha-glucosidase levels after thawing every other day. There was no significant difference between alpha-glucosidase levels in seminal plasma regardless of the presence of PMSF. The alpha-glucosidase level increased with the length of abstinence period. In conclusion, centrifugal velocity and abstinence time should be standardized in the alpha-glucosidase determination. Frozen seminal plasma may serve as the sample for quality control among clinical laboratories.

Preliminary investigations on the standardisation and quality control for the determination of ?-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in seminal plasma

“…The World Health Organization (1999) recommended that the centrifugation of semen should be at 1000 g for 10 min to obtain seminal plasma for the measurement of biochemical markers such as zinc, citric acid and neutral α ‐glucosidase. However, our findings showed that there was a significant difference of α ‐glucosidase levels in seminal plasma obtained by centrifugation at 1000 g for 10 min and 3000 g for 15 min (Lu et al. , 2006).…”

A survey on the status of semen analysis in 118 laboratories in China

“…However, the reported data showed that the abstinence time should be from 2 to 7 days for general semen parameters. For determining seminal a-glucosidase activity, the abstinence time should be from 4 to 7 days, because the a-glucosidase activity in semen samples from a patient who had abstained for only 2-3 days was significantly lower than that in those who had abstained for 4-5 days or 6-7 days [8,9]. Although we did not include data on whether patient history was considered before semen samples were collected, it should be mentioned that such history (for example, fever) could affect the results of semen analysis.…”

Standardization and Quality Control for the Determination of Uric Acid Level in Seminal Plasma

“…[7][8][9][10][11]23 Our results have shown that the standardization of the determination of the seminal biochemistry markers, such as fructose, alpha-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase, is very important. [8][9][10][11] In order to guarantee the accuracy of a seminal UA assay, we have attempted to establish seminal UA detection and investigate the standardization and quality control for the determination of seminal UA levels.…”

“…25 However, our findings on the determination of seminal alpha-glucosidase activity showed there was a significant difference of alpha-glucosidase levels in seminal plasma obtained respectively at 1,000 × g for 10 minutes and 3,000 × g for 15 minutes centrifugation. 8 We also determined the UA levels in seminal plasma obtained at different centrifugation velocities. The results showed there was no significant difference of UA levels (t=0.575; P=0.568) and sperm concentrations (t=5.933; P=0.000) in seminal plasma obtained at 1,000 × g for 10 minutes, and at 3,000 × g for 15 minutes centrifugation, respectively.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] In recent years, more and more andrologists have put great emphasis on the standardization of semen analysis. 7,8 A series of investigations has been carried out on the standardization and quality control for seminal biochemistry markers, including alpha-glucosidase, fructose, acid phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. [8][9][10][11] Nevertheless, the standardization and quality control for the determination of uric acid (UA) levels in seminal plasma has been poorly documented.…”