A novel sperm purification procedure using density gradient centrifugation

A newly developed method for the isolation of human motile spermatozoa using density gradient centrifugation employing polysuccrose and optiprep based media is described. This method has been compared with the traditionally used Percoll technique. Eighteen different sperm samples were divided into two equal aliquots and processed simultaneously using either polysuccrose or the Percoll technique. The yield of progressive motile spermatozoa was significantly increased (48 +/- 7%) with the polysuccrose method compared to the Percoll method (38 +/- 6%) (P < 0.02). The percentage of motile spermatozoa and the motility score were similar between the two types of preparation. The polysuccrose based purification method is equally good as the Percoll method. In our clinic it has now replaced the traditionally used Percoll technique and has already resulted in pregnancies in connection with assisted reproduction techniques.