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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation
Published on: November 29, 2018
Increased recovery of swim-up spermatozoa by application of "antigravitational" centrifugation
C J Babbo1, B R Hecht, R S Jeyendran
1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio 44710, USA.
Objective:
To compare the quantity and quality of sperm recovered following the 10-minute application of an antigravitational force during the swim-up procedure with the standard 60-minute swim-up (SSU) procedure.
Design:
Prospectively controlled in vitro study.
Setting:
Private andrology laboratory and hospital-based infertility practice.
Intervention(S):
Equal aliquots of semen were evaluated following various intervals of antigravitational centrifugation swim-up (ACSU). ACSU and SSU were then compared.
Patient(S):
Thirty-eight men undergoing therapeutic testing.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sperm concentration, sperm motility, and progressive sperm motility.
Results:
The number of sperm recovered from the ACSU procedure was significantly higher than from the SSU procedure. No significant differences in percent motile sperm and progressive motile sperm recovery between the two procedures were observed.
Conclusion:
The ACSU procedure yields a higher number of motile spermatozoa in a much shorter time.
Related Concept Videos
Spermatogenesis
Centrifugation

