Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Semen Analysis Groups Normal Abnormal P-value Mean Age (yrs) 31.4  3.1 35.6  8.3 NS Sperm Concentration (million/cc) 117.4  17 55.2  10 0.004 Sperm Motility (%) 69.3  3.8 49.8  4.2 0.012 Sperm Morphology (%) 55.2  7.2 15.8  1.9 0.001 Conclusions: This study demonstrates that NOx is detectable in seminal plasma. The source and physiological significance of NO in seminal plasma remains to be determined. This study does not support a correlation between seminal plasma NO and sperm quality. Supported by: Dept. of OB/GYN Funds, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. P-277 Routine screening with sperm mixed agglutination reaction signifi- cantly increases antisperm antibody detection. Ronald S. Suh, Brian H. Eisner, Laura M. Keller, Gary D. Smith, Dana A. Ohl. Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Objective: Use of routine screening for antisperm antibody (ASA) re- mains controversial. We sought to analyze the impact of a routine screening program on ASA detection rate in patients undergoing semen analysis. Design: Retrospective clinical case series. Materials/Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all semen analyses from two separate time periods, pre- and post-routine ASA screening. Prior to routine screening, only patients clinically suspected of having antibodies by the treating physicians were tested. Direct immunobead test (DIBT) was utilized in this patient population when requested. After institution of routine screening, all specimens submitted for semen analysis underwent Sperm-Mar (MAR; Fertipro NV, Belgium) analysis. Both the pre- and post-screening groups were comprised of all patients presenting for a semen analysis for infertility evaluation in a single calendar year. The incidence of antibodies were calculated by determining the percentage of patients with a positive DIBT in pre-screening group and the percentage of patients in the post-screening group with a positive Sperm-Mar. The correlation between MAR and DIBT was examined in 21 men with a positive Sperm-Mar in the last 12 months. Differences between the groups were examined with the Fisher exact test. Results: Prior to routine screening, 4 of 212 (1.9%) patients were diag- nosed with ASA. In the routinely screened group, antibodies were diag- nosed in 22 of 237 subjects (9.3%, p 0.001). No patient with a negative MAR was subsequently found to have ASA by DIBT if tested. Of 21 men in the last 12 months who exhibited a positive Sperm-Mar, 100% were found to have a positive DIBT. Conclusions: These data suggest that selective testing for antisperm antibodies based only on clinical suspicion results in a very significant under-diagnosis of immunological infertility. Use of routine screening of all semen specimens results in significantly increased detection of ASA and leads to early recognition of this problem. This information can be of great importance in counseling infertile couples and in giving recommendations for earlier introduction of assisted reproductive technologies. Therefore, we recommend routine screening for antibodies in all semen specimens sub- mitted for evaluation of infertility. Supported by: None. P-278 Is Y chromosome microdeletion a common cause for idiopathic oligo- zoospermia or azoospermia? Ali Hellani, Kamal Jaroudi, Abedalaziz Al Shahrani, Saad Alhassan, Talal Merdad, Serdar Coskun. King Faisal Spe- cialist Hosp and Research Ctr, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Objective: Y chromosome long arm microdeletion is one of the known factors leading to complete failure or decrease in spermatogenesis. This study aims to define the percentage of Y chromosome microdeletion located in azoospermia factor (AZF) in a center where the prevalence of male infertility is elevated (60%–70%). Design: Prospective study. Materials/Methods: A total of 85 Saudi infertile patients with idiopathic oligospermia (53) and azoospermia (31), with normal hormonal profile, no anatomical abnormalities and no history of medical problems were enrolled in the study. Twenty Specific Targeted Sequences (STSs-3 markers in AZFa, 7 markers in AZFb, 9 markers in AZFc and 1 marker in AZFd) and 5 genes (DFFRY, DBY, eIF-1AY, CDY and DAZ) have been assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: There were a total of 5 deletions (6%) in AZFc region in 84 patients studied. Three out of the 5 deletions observed encompasses a large part of the AZFc (7 out of 9 STSs used plus CDY and DAZ genes) while in the two others the deletion is smaller with one STS only missed while all the other STSs and genes were present. Conclusions: This report shows that Y chromosome microdeletion rep- resents only 6% of our strictly recruited patient and the DAZ sequence is present in two patients with Yq distal region microdeletion. It is worthwhile to indicate that the deletion occurs only within AZFc for both azoospermia (2/31, 6.5%) and oligospermia (3/53, 5.7%) reflecting the potential role of this region in spermatogenesis by containing different genes including DAZ. Moreover, no genotype/phenotype correlation could be concluded because large deletion occurs in both oligozoospemia and azoospemia. The deletion observed in only 6% urges to look for other factors in addition to Y chromosome microdeletion in our population. Supported by: King Abedalaziz City for Science and Technology. P-279 A comparison of the testicular duplex Doppler findings in infertility vs pre-vasectomy (fertile) patients. Andrew R. McCullough, Rupa Patel, Shpetim Telegrafi. New York Univ Sch of Medicine, New York, NY. Objective: The use of the testis duplex Doppler ultrasound is controver- sial in the workup of the infertile male. While it is very sensitive and specific for the presence of varicoceles, the detection of subclinical varicoceles is definitely higher. In experienced hands the Doppler nonetheless provides the best objective measure for the severity of the varicocele as well as an accurate volumetric measurement of the testes. Men undergoing vasectomy, who are, by definition, fertile, at our center routinely undergo pre-operative testis Dopplers to exclude subtle testicular pathology. We compared the testicular Doppler findings in men presenting for infertility (INF) and pre-vasectomy (PV). Design: Retrospective analysis of 156 men presenting for infertility vs 18 men presenting for vasectomy. Materials/Methods: All testicular Dopplers were performed using Acuson Aspen Advanced system by the same ultrasonographer (ST) with 7 to 10 mgHZ probes in the supine and standing position, with and without val- salva. Parameters measured included testicular volumes (TV), rete testis width (RTW), peak diameter (PD) and venous flow velocity (PVF) of pampiniform veins during valsalva. Results: Infertility patients demonstrated a significant difference in the incidence of bilateral varicoceles and a decrease in testicular volumes.The incidence of bilateral varicoceles (BV), left varicocles (LV), right varico- celes (RV) in INF and PV patients was 43% (67/156), 39% (61/156), 1% (2/156) and 5% (1/18), 50% (9/18), 44% (8/18),respectively. Normal scans were seen in 17% of INF vs 44% of PV patients. Average testicular volume in INF and PV was 12.25 vs 14.5. RTW, PD, and PVF were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: The purpose of this study was to assess whether men presenting with infertility manifested a different incidence of varicocles from men with documented fertility, using sophisticated testicular duplex Doppler imagery. We found a significant increase in the prevalence of bilateral varicocles and a decrease in testicular volume in men with infer- tility presenting to a university andrology clinic. Supported by: None. P-280 Flow-cytometry of testes with azoospermia: A comparative study with routine histopathological picture and correlation with hormonal pro- file. Ashraf Hassan Ahmed, Rizk Abdel Naby Rizk, Mahmoud Mohamed Eid, Mostafa Ahmed Elsaied, Abdel-Fattah Mohamed Attallah. Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt; George Washington Univ, Wash- ington, DC. FERTILITY & STERILITY S207