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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Fluorimetric Techniques for the Assessment of Sperm Membranes
Published on: November 28, 2018
The effect of semen processing on sperm DNA integrity: comparison of two techniques using the novel Toluidine Blue
Dennis E Marchesi1, Hannah Biederman, Scott Ferrara
1Center for Human Reproduction, North Shore University Hospital-NYU School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
Objective:
The first goal of this study was to determine the effect that semen processing has on sperm DNA integrity. The second goal was to assess which processing technique (modified swim-up versus density gradient centrifugation) results in a superior sample. DNA integrity was measured using a novel Toluidine Blue Assay.
Study Design:
Side-by-side comparison.
Materials And Methods:
Raw semen samples were collected from thirty-two male individuals and scored for routine semen analysis. Prior to discarding the specimens identical aliquots were divided and processed by density gradient centrifugation and a modified swim-up technique. The Toluidine Blue Assay was used to analyze raw and processed samples.
Results:
Both density gradient centrifugation and the modified swim-up improved DNA quality compared to the unprocessed sample. However, the modified swim-up technique proved superior.
Conclusions:
The swim-up technique generates a sperm sample with better DNA integrity. Should DNA integrity correlate with better pregnancy rates in IUI and IVF, respectively, the swim-up may be the sperm processing technique of choice for these procedures.
