Chromomycin A3 staining, sperm chromatin structure assay and hyaluronic acid binding assay as predictors for assisted reproductive outcome.

Functional sperm tests such as the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), chromomycin A3 staining (CMA(3)) and hyaluronic acid binding assay (HBA) have been suggested as predictive tests of fertility in vitro. This study aimed to define the clinical role of these functional parameters in assisted reproduction in a prospective cohort study. Conventional sperm diagnosis (motility, morphology and concentration) as well as SCSA, CMA(3) and HBA tests were performed on 205 semen samples [74 IVF, 94 ICSI and 37 combined IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)]. Main outcome parameters were fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate and take-home baby rate. The study showed that each of the three functional sperm tests was related to one or more conventional and one or more functional sperm tests, indicating that spermatozoa from patients with abnormal conventional semen parameters have a higher likelihood for multiple functional abnormalities. Only SCSA and CMA(3) staining were shown to have a limited predictive value when IVF or combined IVF/ICSI was applied. The proposed threshold value of

Reprotoxicity of intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer disposables and products: a 4-year survey.

OBJECTIVE: To test consumables and other products used during oocyte collection, sperm preparation, IUI, embryo culture, and IVF-embryo transfer for their possible reprotoxic properties. DESIGN: A prospective 4-year survey of reprotoxicity testing of consumables and other products used in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). SETTING: Private infertility center in a university-affiliated teaching hospital. INTERVENTION(S): Thirty-six products of 72 different brands, including plastics, syringes, tubing, and surgical gloves were analyzed for their reprotoxicity in 350 human sperm survival tests (SpST). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The SpST index: percentage progressive motility of test sample/percentage progressive motility of control sample after 24 and 96 hours. RESULT(S): Thirteen of 36 products were found to be reprotoxic: an SpST index <0.85 was noted 24 and 96 hours after exposure. These products included eight brands of unpowdered surgical gloves, two types of hysterometers and one type of tubing attached to the oocyte collection needle, one type of ovum pickup procedure needle, and one type of embryo transfer catheter. One type of condom used for ultrasound, one type of sterile Pasteur pipette and petri dish, as well as the cover of a specimen container, were reprotoxic. CONCLUSION(S): The SpST is an inexpensive, easy, and reliable method to identify potential reprotoxic products and consumables used in ART procedures. These data underline the importance of the inclusion of the SpST in a continuous quality control (QC) program of ART outcome.