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Updated: Oct 9, 2026
Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation
Published on: November 29, 2018
Microfluidic preparation of spermatozoa for ICSI produces similar embryo quality to density-gradient centrifugation:
Molly M Quinn1, Salustiano Ribeiro2, Flor Juarez-Hernandez2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Study Question:
Does processing of spermatozoa for IVF with ICSI by a microfluidic sperm separation device improve embryo quality compared with density-gradient centrifugation?
Summary Answer:
Patients randomized to microfluidic sperm preparation had similar cleavage- and blastocyst-stage embryo quality and clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates to those who underwent standard sperm processing for IVF with ICSI.
What Is Known Already:
Microfluidic sperm preparation can isolate spermatozoa for clinical use with minimal DNA fragmentation but with unclear impact on clinical outcomes.
Study Design, Size, Duration:
A prospective randomized controlled trial of 386 patients planning IVF from June 2017 through September 2021 was carried out.
Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods:
One hundred and ninety-two patients were allocated to sperm processing with a microfluidic sperm separation device for ICSI, while 194 patients were allocated to clinical standard density-gradient centrifugation (control) at an academic medical centre.
Main Results And The Role Of Chance:
In an intention to treat analysis, there were no differences in high-quality cleavage-stage embryo fraction [66.0 (25.8)% control versus 68.0 (30.3) microfluidic sperm preparation, P = 0.541, absolute difference -2.0, 95% CI (-8.5, 4.5)], or high-quality blastocyst fraction [37.4 (25.4) control versus 37.4 (26.2) microfluidic sperm preparation, P = 0.985, absolute difference -0.6 95% CI (-6, 5.9)] between groups. There were no differences in the clinical pregnancy or ongoing pregnancy rates between groups.
Limitations, Reasons For Caution:
The population studied was inclusive and did not attempt to isolate male factor infertility cases or patients with a history of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation.
Wider Implications Of The Findings:
Microfluidic sperm separation performs similarly to density-gradient centrifugation in sperm preparation for IVF in an unselected population.
Study Funding/Competing Interest(S):
No external funding to declare. M.P.R. is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for ZyMōt® Fertility, Inc.
Trial Registration Number:
NCT03085433.
Trial Registration Date:
21 March 2017.
Date Of First Patient’S Enrollment:
16 June 2017.
