Andrology Laboratory Services
We provide specialized laboratory testing.
SEMEN ANALYSIS is an essential test for evaluating whether there is a male factor contributing to infertility. It includes a determination of color, viscosity, volume, liquefaction, pH, sperm concentration, percent motility, morphology, grade of progression and type and number of non-sperm cells (i.e. white blood cells, red blood cells).
ANTISPERM ANTIBODY TEST helps to determine if there is an immunologic factor contributing to infertility. Antisperm antibodies can be produced by both men and women. Men can form antisperm antibodies against their own sperm and women can generate antibodies against their partner’s sperm.
SPERM PENETRATION ASSAY is used to evaluate sperm function in cases of unexplained infertility and to determine the fertilizing potential of severely oligospermic men (men with low sperm counts). This test measures the ability of the sperm to penetrate hamster ova.
SPERM WASHING is ordered prior to intrauterine insemination because it removes chemicals which may cause adverse reactions in the uterus. It also enhances the fertilizing capacity of the sperm and is thus recommended in cases of immunologic, male- factor or unexplained infertility.
Sperm washing involves removing the seminal plasma and any cryoprotectant from the specimen. We offer the basic sperm wash technique using dilution and centrifugation; the Density Gradient wash using density gradient centrifugation to isolate and purify the motile sperm; and swim-up wash using self-migration to obtain a sperm sample with a motility of at least 90%.
SEX PRESELECTION may be used to increase the chances of having a child of a certain sex. The technique we use is based on the premise that sperm cells carrying a Y chromosome (male) move faster than those carrying an X chromosome (female). As the sperm cells move through an albumin solution, sperm seperate according to whether they carry an X or Y chromosome. The woman can then be artificially inseminated with X or Y bearing sperm depending on the sex she desires for her baby.
CERVICAL MUCUS PENETRATION TEST is used to evaluate sperm penetration in cervical mucus.
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