Does the hypoosmotic swelling test predict human sperm viability?
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rosario, Argentina. reprolab@citynet.net.ar Human sperm viability is essential for successful fertilization. Eosin Y is the usually accepted method for sperm viability assessment, though the hypoosmotic swelling test has been proposed for the selection of viable spermatozoa in procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The present study was designed to determine the value of hypoosmotic swelling test in the prediction of sperm viability. For this purpose, hypoosmotic swelling and eosin Y were performed in parallel and in combination, on both fresh and freeze-thawed semen. Rates for eosin Y were significantly higher than for the hypoosmotic swelling test in fresh semen, with a weak, though significant correlation between the two tests (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). When both tests were performed in succession (hypoosmotic swelling test followed by eosin Y), 14.6% of swollen sperm incor
