Ability and accuracy of the smartphone-based O`VIEW-M® sperm test: Useful tool in the era of Covid-19

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 16;17(6):e0269894. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269894. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Male infertility affects up to 12% of men. Although manual testing using microscope examination and computer-assisted semen analysis are standard methods of measuring sperm count and motility, these methods are limited by being laboratory based. To investigate the usefulness of a novel semen analysis device using a smartphone camera. This prospective multicenter randomized parallel design trial enrolled 200 men aged ≥19 years of age between August and December 2018. Each subject was advised to use the Smart Sperm Test for OVIEW-M at home after 5 days of abstinence. The accuracy of the OVIEW-M test relative to the in-hospital test was determined. A questionnaire was administered to assess subject likelihood of using the OVIEW-M. Measurements using standard methods and the OVIEW-M showed similar sperm counts and similar motile sperm counts. Correlation analysis showed significant correlations between sperm count and sperm motility when measured by OVIEW-M tests (r = 0.893, p < 0.01) and standard microscope examination (r = 0.883, p < 0.01). Of the subjects who responded to questionnaires, 43% regarded the results of the OVIEW-M tests as reliable and 18% as unreliable. Semen analysis with the smartphone-based application and accessories yielded results not inferior to those of laboratory tests. Men who visit the hospital for evaluation of infertility can easily perform OVIEW-M semen tests at home.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male* / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Semen
  • Semen Analysis / methods
  • Smartphone
  • Sperm Count
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) & funded by the Korean government(NRF-2019M3E5D1A01066057). Prof. Jung Ki Jo. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.