Examination of the Accuracy of the Quantitative of Kit for Determination of Zinc Concentration in Seminal Fluid

Introduction: The role of zinc is critical to reproduction potential. Seminal zinc is thought to be derived almost exclusively from prostatic secretions. Sperm motility is significantly influenced by zinc. Zinc deficiency has been linked with male sterility and subfertility. Materials and Methods: The semen samples were obtained from 300 male partners of infertile couples who attended the Department Biomedical and Genetics of the Hanoi medical university within the age 18-50 years and semen samples were analyzed for the routine seminal parameters. Routine semen analysis was performed according to WHO 2010 guidelines. After the semen analysis, samples were centrifuged at 1500 x g for 10min and zinc and fructose concentrations assayed from the supernatant (i.e. seminal plasma). Zinc concentration was assessed using spectrophotometry (5- Br- PAPS method) – direct colorimetric test without deproteinization of the sample. At pH 8.6, in a buffered media, zinc reacts with specific complexing 5-Br-PAPS form a stable color compound. Results: Linear regression model: y = 0.0666x + 1.2026 with correlation coefficient r = 0.9956. The calibration function: y = 0.9977x with R2 = 0.9995. Repeatability: SD = 0.004 and coefficient of variation CV% = 0.27% <5%; Intermediate precision: standard deviation is SD = 0.01, coefficient of variation is CV% = 0.64% <5%; trueness: tex= 2,076 <tt = 2.262. Specificity was 100% and 100% sensitivity at 64x dilution. Specificity was 100 % and 99,05 % sensitivity. Significant correlation between the two methods with r=0,975, p<0,001; average difference between the two methods is 0,0002 (nearly 0). 

Conclusion: Complete the kit for determination of zinc concentration in semen by colorimetric method.  

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Not applicable

The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.