Background: The human sperm survival test has become a simple, reliable QC procedure in the IVF laboratory for monitoring the culture environment and testing contact materials not previously tested by the manufacturer or supplier. Proficiency testing results suggest that the human sperm survival assay is comparable to the mouse embryo bioassay for detection of embryotoxicity. However, more studies are needed to determine the appropriateness of the sperm motility assay as a standard bioassay for human embryo viability and IVF outcome.
Objective: To evaluate whether there was any relationship between 48h human sperm survival rates obtained for different lots of plastic culture dishes and tubes and subsequent IVF outcome.
Materials and Methods: Sperm survival data was evaluated for 8 lots of center-well organ culture dishes (Falcon, #3037) and 3 lots of petri dishes (Falcon, #1007) used for insemination and culture, and 11 lots of 14 ml round bottom tubes used for oocyte collection and sperm incubation (Falcon, #2057).The sperm survival assay was performed on processed sperm resuspended in HTF + 5% HSA at 10-20 M/ml. Motility of sperm was assessed at 0h and after incubation at 37 º C in 5% CO2 for 24 and 48h. Sperm survival percentage rates were expressed as the (48h motility/0h motility) x 100. A total of 150 fresh IVF/ICSI cases performed over a two-year period in the different lots of plasticware were evaluated for fertilization rate, embryo quality at the time of transfer, pregnancy rates and implantation rates. Data was analyzed using the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient.
Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the sperm survival rate obtained for lots of culture dishes with pregnancy rate (r=0.686, p<0.05) but not between the sperm survival rate obtained for lots of round-bottom tubes and pregnancy rate. Neither the fertilization rate (mean: 76%) nor the embryo quality (determined by the percentage of top quality embryos transferred) correlated with sperm survival testing results from dishes or tubes. There was no significant correlation between implantation rates and sperm survival rates for dishes and tubes although a positive trend was evident (r=0.372 and r=0.365 respectively).
Conclusions: The sperm motility assay predicted pregnancy rates for different lots of culture dishes. This supports the use of the sperm survival test as an appropriate bioassay, since oocytes and embryos are exposed for several days to these vessels. Not surprisingly, sperm survival rates from tubes failed to predict pregnancy rates, probably due to the short time-span during which oocytes and sperm were exposed. The lack of a significant association between sperm survival and embryo quality or implantation rates may indicate that further studies are needed to enhance the sensitivity of this bioassay.

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Our fertility specialists at The Reproductive Sciences Center, or RSC, are conveniently located in La Jolla California in San Diego County. We have worked hard to create and maintain our reputation as the first-rate San Diego fertility clinic and sciences center. RSC has become synonymous with comprehensive and successful female and male infertility treatment, egg donor programs and surrogacy options, in vitro fertilization, ICSI and more.

While we have provided services to hundreds of patients throughout the Temecula, Murrieta, La Jolla, Riverside,San Bernardino and Encinitas areas, we also help many people from across the United States, Europe, Australia , Asia, Africa and the Americas who make us their final destination for treatment with infertility in San Diego. We lead the area as one of the leading fertility centers in the world.

Our fertility center has long been established as having one of the highest fertility success rates in the world, and with more than 75 years of combined medical training, experience and ongoing continuing education, our fertility specialists set the bar for the industry. Our medical director and leading fertility doctor is one of the most well-respected experts in the world.

Successful fertility treatment in San Diego is only possible with the best fertility specialists and staff in OrangeCounty. We have been providing unsurpassed treatment for infertility in San Diego, including IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and other San Diego fertility services in La Jolla for more than a decade.

Some of our successful options for fertility treatment in San Diego include natural fertility treatment, advanced fertility treatment, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), San Diego In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), ICSI for severe male infertility, genetic testing, embryo donation, blastocyst transfers, assisted hatching, and more. We are the top professionals of fertility options for women with cancer and fertility options for men with cancer in San Diego as well.

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