Sperm Preparation with Microfluidic Sperm Sorting Chip May Improve Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes Compared to Density Gradient Centrifugation

Does sperm preparation using the FERTILE PLUS (TM) Sperm Sorting Chip improve fertilization rates, blastocyst formation, utilization, and euploidy rates in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), compared with density gradient centrifugation (DGC)? A single-cohort, retrospective data review including data from 53 couples who underwent ICSI cycles within a 12-month period. For each couple, the two closest, consecutive cycles were identified, where one used the standard technique of sperm preparation (DGC) and the subsequent used FERTILE PLUS (TM), therefore, couples acted as their own controls. Paired samples t-test was used to compare means for the outcomes (fertilization, blastocyst formation, utilization, and euploidy rates). Binary logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between female age, the presence of male factor infertility, and euploidy rates. Blastocyst, utilization, and euploidy rates were significantly higher for cycles using FERTILE PLUS (TM) compared to DGC (76% vs 56%, p = 0.002; 60% vs 41%, p = 0.005, and 40% vs 20%, p = 0.001, respectively). Although there was an increase in fertilization rates for cycles using FERTILE PLUS (TM), this was not significant (72% vs 68%, p = 0.449). The euploidy rates of females <= 35 years were significantly increased when the FERTILE PLUS (TM) sperm preparation method was used, compared to the older age group (OR 2.31, p = 0.007). No significant association was found between the presence or absence of male factor infertility and euploidy rates between the two cycles. This study provides tentative evidence that the FERTILE PLUS (TM) microfluidic sorting device for sperm selection can improve blastocyst formation, utilization, and euploidy rates following ICSI in comparison to the DGC method.