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HBA Assay - Sperm Hyaluron Binding Assay for the Qualitative Assessment of Sperm

The Newest Tool for Assessing Sperm Quality

Binding Ratio Assay for:

• Quality
• Maturity
• Structural Integrity

Coming Later in 2005!

HBA Dish for ICSI Sperm Selection

Correlations

• Strict Criteria - 2003 ASRM
• SCSA - 2004 New England Fertility Society
• Fertility - 2004 ASRM
• Based on pioneering work of Dr. Huszar, Yale

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CPT Billing Code: Category III : 00XXT

ASRM 2003

Abstracts

Statistically Significant Correlation Between Normal Sperm Morphology (NSM) and Sperm Binding Potential to an Immobilized Monolayer of Hyaluronan Using the HYDAK® Sperm Hyaluronan-Binding Assay (HBA). K. C., Worrilow¹, N. Black¹, N.B. Maher¹, J.B. Bower¹, A.J. Peters¹and J.B. Johnston².

¹Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Dept. of Ob/Gyn, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network - Muhlenberg, Bethlehem, PA, ²Biocoat, Inc., Fort Washington, PA.

Conclusions: Hyaluronan may play a critical role in the selection of functionally competent sperm during in vivo fertilization. The current study demonstrated that a statistically significant relationship existed between the HBA and NSM carried by a seminal population. A seminal population carrying a higher HBA score was concomitant with increased levels of NSM. A Lower HBA score was also found to be statistically consistent with poor morphology parameters. The HYDAK® HBA may therefore serve as a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing the level of development maturity, incidence of aneuploidy and morphological parameters of a seminal population. Ongoing studies are exploring the role hyaluronan may play in the selection of functionally competent sperm and the potential value of the HBA as a diagnostic tool.

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New Engalnd Fertility Society Annual Meeting 2004

Relationship between Sperm Chromatin Integrity, Morphology and the Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA™).
William E. Roudebush¹, Kathryn C. Worrilow²>, Albert J. Peters², Michael A. Witt¹, Andrew A. Toledo¹, Dorothy Mitchell-Leef¹, Carlene W, Elsner¹, Joe B. Massey¹and Hilton I. Kort¹.

¹Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta, GA, ²Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network-Muhlenberg Campus, Bethlehem, PA.

Conclusion: Hyaluronan may play a significant role during fertilization by selection of functionally competent sperm. In the present study we found a significant relationship between the HBA and DFI as well as cell morphology. As DFI increases the respective sperm’s HBA result decreases. When cell morphology increases HBA also increases. Additional studies are warranted to determine the impact HBA has upon male fertility diagnostics.

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Fertil Steril. 2003 Jun;79 Suppl 3:1616-24 (ASRM 2004) - Read Full Article

Hyaluronan acid binding by human sperm indicates cellular maturity, viability, and unreacted acrosomal status.
Gabor Huszar, M.D., Ciler Ozenci, Ph.D., Sevil Cayli, M.S., Zoltan Zavaczki, M.D., Eleonora Hansch, M.D., and Lynne Vigue, M.S.

Sperm Physiology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

CONCLUSION(S): Sperm that are able to bind to HA are mature and have completed the spermiogenetic processes of sperm plasma membrane remodeling, cytoplasmic extrusion, and nuclear histone-protamine replacement. Hyaluronic acid-bound sperm show unreacted acrosomes. These studies provide further insights into the relationship between spermiogenesis and sperm function.

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