Method for the inactivation of virus on semen straws.

A number of infectious agents including some viruses may be transmitted through semen. In methods for the processing and storage of frozen semen where liquid nitrogen has free access to the semen such as in the pellet method the possibility exists of infectious agents being transferred from one dose of semen to the other. The assumption that transmission may take place has been supported by Lorrmann (1968) who demonstrated that sperm could be transferred from one pellet to another. In other freezing procedures such as the straw method the processing is so that the vials (straws) may be contaminated on their outside surface from the semen for which they are used or otherwise, and the possibility exists, therefore, of contamination of the liquid nitrogen in the storage container with viruses and other infectious agents.