A CASA system (Computer Assisted Semen Analysis - CASA) is an automated, objective and standardized equipment which allows you to assess sperm concentration, motility, morphology and vitality in a semen sample. Most systems are based on image analysis but alternative methods exist. However the last ones are not considered as CASA systems.

A CASA system is a necessary instrument to standardize all the parameters of sperm analysis, especially in case of research and publications but also to approve the internal and external quality controls.

Computer-assisted techniques are most often used for the assessment of sperm concentration and motility following the W.H.O criteria. To assess motility, different types of spermatozoa have to be analysed: “a” (fast progressive motility), “b” (low progressive motility), “c” (non progressive motility) and “d” (immotile).

For the morphology analysis there are different options of classification criteria such as W.H.O, Kruger or user defined and also different staining solutions can be used for a better visualization and capture of images in different species. Diff-quik, Cell-Vu (prestained slides) and SpermBlue are recommended. Brands like Shorr and Papanicolau can also be used.

Nowadays CASA systems are more and more present in analysis centres, they are not only considered as an eventuality but as a reality.

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