Sperm Quality Assessment via Separation and Sedimentation in a Microfluidic Device

• Main Authors: Tsun-Chao Chiang, 蔣存超
• Other Authors: Andrew M. Wo
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/94375077686054241927

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 應用力學研究所 === 100 === A large percentage of infertility is due to male factor. Total spermatozoon concentration and their motile percentage are vital criteria for evaluation, yet difficult due to complicated factors. This paper presents a simple microfluidic device to assess human sperm quality by quantifying both total and motile sperm counts. Semen sample was allowed to reach equilibrium whereby non-motile remain in the inlet reservoir and roughly half of motile sperms swim across a phaseguide barrier into an adjacent region. Then centrifugation results in two pellet areas representing total and motile sperm concentrations upon calculation of the corresponding occupied areas. Results show centrifuge at 1500g for 20 mins generated compact and robust pellets for concentration less than 〖10〗^7 sperm/ml, and revealed good correlation against Makler chamber with coefficient of determination R^2=0.97. Motile percentage in range of 10-70% was tested, encompassing the cutoff value of 40% stated by WHO standard, with good coefficient of determination of R2= 0.84. Comparison of results from Makler Chamber, sperm quality analyzer (SQA) and the sperm microfluidic disk revealed results from the sperm disk agrees with the Makler chamber without statistical significance. The sperm microfluidic disk analyzes both total and motile sperm concentrations in one spin, accurate and easy to use, which should enable sperm quality analysis without the aid of expensive microscope.