Evaluation of ART devices toxicity with human sperm motility assay

Background: To maintain the highest standard in the ART laboratory, all consumables utilized for culture of embryos and gametes should be examined in terms of quality control. In this study, human sperm motility assay (HSA) was used for evaluating toxicity of consumable devices.Objective: Evaluation of falcon 15ml, Petri dish 10cm, Surgical gloves, tip, filtered tip, Iranian Petri dish, Ultrasonography probe and sperm sampling container toxicity with Human sperm motility assay.Materials and Methods: Eight consumable devices in the ART Laboratory were investigated by HSA test. These devices were included falcon 15ml, Petri dish 10cm, Surgical gloves, tip, filtered tip, Iranian Petri dish, Ultrasonography probe and sperm sampling container. In this study, we used normal sample of sperm with more than 50% mobility and after swim up, the specimens were exposed to the device for 10 min. Both control and case groups were examined after 10 min, 30 min, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hr. In each group, the percentage of motile sperm was evaluated. Then the ratio of sperm motility in case to control group was considered as an index of toxicity. If the ratio was less than 85%, the intended device was considered to be toxic. This test was performed triplicate.Results: The results of our study showed that after the above-mentioned times, there were no significant difference between the case and control groups in falcon 15 ml, Petri dish 10 cm, tip, filtered tip and sperm sampling container. Both surgical gloves and Iranian petri dish after 24 hr and ultrasonography probe after 2 and 24 hr, were detected toxic.Conclusion: Considering the importance and sensitivity of the ART laboratory, Qualitative control tests must be carried out on consumable device. In this regard, HSA is one of the tests to be considered.

Keywords:

Toxicity , Human sperm motility assay , HSA , Surgical gloves , ART devise