The new 6th edition of the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen: Is it a step toward better standard operating procedure?

Abstract

Semen analysis (SA) remains the cornerstone of male infertility evaluation and should ideally be performed by an accredited andrology laboratory or in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics based on the standards defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen and in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization’s Basic Semen Examination on Specification and Test Methods.1,2 The first edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual on Semen Analysis Processing was published in 1980, and since then, four modified and updated versions have been released to improve SA standard methods and incorporate new technologies to assess extended and advanced sperm parameters.3 Early this year, an anticipated 6th edition draft has been sent out online for public reviewing and feedback before its forthcoming official publication.4 The new 6th edition of the WHO manual aims to provide not only an update of the current methods and thresholds but also an insight in recent developments on semen examination, sperm preparation and cryopreservation, and quality control and assurance.