Hygienic Practices and Sterilization Protocols in Semen Stations

Hygienic practices and sterilization protocols in semen stations refer to a set of standardized procedures and cleanliness measures followed during the collection, processing, and storage of semen (typically bovine or other livestock) to ensure the production of high-quality, contaminant-free frozen semen for artificial insemination (AI).

Artificial Insemination with frozen semen has proved to be the most successful reproductive bio-technological tool throughout the world for the genetic improvement of livestock, especially bovines through dissemination of superior germplasm.

This objective could be achieved only if the frozen semen used in the AI programme conforms to the prescribed quality standards.

For production and distribution of quality semen every step in the semen collection, processing and freezing is important.

The standard protocols should be prepared and to be followed by the persons involved in semen collection and processing.

The protocols should be monitored by the person in charge for the quality control and it should be rectified whenever there is any deviation.

Failure to observe these guidelines would lead to production of poor quality semen making them unfit for distribution to AI centres.

Hygienic Practices

The good laboratory practices should be followed to maintain the laboratory hygiene in places like semen processing lab, buffer and diluent preparation room, AV room, sterilization room, pass box and ante room.

To maintain the hygiene, fumigation is done twice a week in all the above places.

Fumigation of the laboratory can be done with formalin with fumigator/humidifier or by potassium permanganate and formalin.

Fumigation Using Humidifier

5% concentration during in between weeks (12.5 ml of 35 to 40% formaldehyde per cubic meter) and 8% concentration at weekends (22 ml of 35 to 40% formaldehyde per cubic meter) is generally used with humidifier for fumigation of laboratory.

The fumigation is done for 2 hours and the exhaust fan is switched on over night to remove all the formalin fumes.

The bacterial load shall be measured every week to monitor pollution of the laboratory atmosphere.

Monitoring of lab environment by bacterial load test should support any alternative method of sterilizing semen lab if tried.

Ultra Violet (UV) Lamp

The Ultra-violet lamp can be used to sterilize the laboratory on days other than when formalin is not used.

The number of lamps required will depend upon the area of laboratory.

The lamps are fixed inside the semen processing lab, freezing lab, buffer and diluent preparation room, all laminar air flow units, apron and laboratory footwear cabinet and pass box with a common operating switch outside the laboratory.

These lights shall be kept ‘on’ for at least for 8 hours during night hours and should be switched off at least 30 minutes before beginning work.

The date of installation of the UV lights shall be noted to facilitate replacement as the life of UV tube is of 2000 hours. A log book should be maintained for timely replacement of UV lights.