Abstract
PURPOSE: Our purpose was to compare the number and quality of spermatozoa recover following the standard centrifugation method with those after pulsing the relative centrifugal field during centrifugation. METHODS: A prospectively controlled in vitro study using ejaculates from 10 healthy sperm donors was undertaken. Number of sperm and sperm motility at 0, 3, and 24 hr post-incubation at 5 degrees C in TEST-yolk results determined the efficacy of the centrifugation techniques. RESULTS: The number of sperm and sperm motility at 0, 3, and 24 hr post-incubation at 5 degrees C in TEST-yolk were significantly higher for the sperm recovered following pulse centrifugation compared with those after standard centrifugation. CONCLUSIONS: Pulsing the relative centrifugal field during centrifugation yields a higher number of viable spermatozoa.