Does anyone know if this DVM Stat Spectrophotometer is very accurate for determining sperm Concentration? It's a good price and I was hoping it was. thanks for any response.
If used according to the instructions it is no less accurate than any other "mechanical" sperm counter.
There are a couple of things to be aware of with the DVM Stat. Firstly, you will have to dilute the semen with exact measurements (which means that there is a possibility of error in the dilution, which would of course result in an innacurate reading). The other thing to be aware of is that you do not get a reading that shows the concentration, but a reading that shows the absorbency level of the light that is used in the test. You then take that reading and check it against a written chart that is also provided.
The standard of the industry is still the hemacytometer, but it is more labour-intensive and time-consuming to use, even though it is more accurate (and considerably cheaper).
I figured as much. I have a Hemacytometer but have had problems with seeing the semen. I got the platlet unoppeted<sp?>.. Tried using my microscope that is not a Phase contrast and the sperm are so small I can barley see them at all. So I couldn't even count if I tried. Maybe if I use it 100X zoom? Not sure but I have to start figuring out what I'm not doing right. Just a little fustrating at times.
You do not need a phase contrast microscope. We routinely use a hemacytometer with a bright light (a regular) microscope, and we view it at either 100x or 400x magnification. Those magnifications are achieved using the 10x and 40x objectives on your microscope (the eyepiece is typical 10x, so multiplying those figures by the eyepiece gives you the actual magnification).
Note that not all hemacytometers are created equal! You need to get one that has good clarity of the dividing lines. We have had good success using the ones from Exodus Breeder Supply, which have good clarity.
Unopettes are a mixed blessing. They can be very convenient, but we have found that if they are not used up before their expiry date, they can evaporate slightly and that will of course reduce accuracy. You can try using this method instead - it's also a lot cheaper than Unopettes (and is what we do):
You will need some formalin (be extremely careful with this - it is not good to be exposed to or breath in, so take care); some small test-tube containers (or something like them) that will hold a minimum of 6-ml; some 1-ml insulin syringes; and a syringe that will measure 4½-ml.
Put 4½-ml of formalin in 2 of the test tubes (or whatever you are using).
Take a ½ ml sample of semen with the insulin syringe - make sure that there are no air bubbles in the syringe. Place the sample in one of the tubes with the formalin in, flushing the syringe several times to make sure there is no semen left. Mix gently by inverting, and then using a clean insulin syringe, take a one-half ml sample of this mixed semen and place it in the second tube with the [clean] formalin in. Again flush the syringe, and mix gently by inverting several times. Take a sample of this mixture to use in the hemacytometer.
Diluting in the above manner creates a dilution ratio of 1:99 (or 100 dilution), and makes the math EASY. You will count 25 or 50 of the middle-sized squares (all of the squares on both sides, or 12 on one side, and 13 on the other). If you count 25 squares, the number of sperm you counted will be the equivalent of the sperm concentration in millions/ml. If you counted 50 squares (which will be more accurate), divide by 2, and the resulting number will be the equivalent in millions/ml.
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