The resazurin reduction test provides an assessment of sperm activity.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine if reduction of the dye resazurin by semen could be correlated with the concentration of motile sperm.


METHODS
After assessment of sperm count and motility, specimens were incubated for 1 hour with resazurin (25 micrograms/mL of semen) and visual color changes indicative of dye reduction noted.


METHODS
Specimens were obtained from men seeking care for infertility at one of four sites: (1) University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) In Vitro Fertilization Program; (2) UCSF Andrology Laboratory; (3) a gynecological practice in Maine; and (4) a private andrology laboratory in Southern California.


METHODS
Individuals were self-selected by their desire to have a semen analysis in conjunction with the diagnosis or treatment of infertility.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
The reduction of the dye resazurin and its correlation with motile sperm density.


RESULTS
When the motile sperm concentration was greater than or equal to 20 X 10(6)/mL, 86% of specimens produced a positive color change. Conversely, 86% of specimens with a motile sperm concentration of less than 20 X 10(6)/mL either did not change color or changed only over a narrow range.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of resazurin offers an assessment of the active sperm in a specimen without the need to do a sperm count or evaluation of motility.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco 94123-0132.
R H
RH
Glass
S A
SA
Ericsson
R J
RJ
Ericsson
M T
MT
Drouin
L J
LJ
Marcoux
H
H
Sullivan
D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010078:Oxazines / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014966:Xanthenes
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010078:Oxazines; D014966:Xanthenes; C005843:resazurin