EVALUATION OF 3 SUBSTITUTES FOR PERCOLL IN SPERM ISOLATION BY DENSITYGRADIENT CENTRIFUGATION

Silane-coated silica particle solutions (ISolate(TM) and PureSperm(TM) ) and iodixanol (OptiPrep(TM)) were compared to polyvinylpyrrolidone ( PVP)-coated silica particles (Percoll(TM)) in their efficacy to recove r spermatozoa by gradient centrifugation for use in assisted reproduct ive procedures. Efficacy was assessed in terms of percentages of sperm recovery, sperm vitality and motility, normal sperm morphology and no rmal sperm chromatin condensation. No significant difference was found in the recovery of spermatozoa for men with both normal sperm counts and oligozoospermia, between PVP-coated and silane-coated particle sol utions. Iodixanol had significantly lower sperm recovery compared to t he other products. Sperm vitality, progressive motility, normal morpho logy and normal chromatin condensation did not differ significantly be tween any of the sperm isolation products.