title: Hemizona assay: assessment of sperm dysfunction and prediction of in vitro fertilization outcome.
abstract: The hemizona assay (HZA) was used in a prospective, blinded study to assess the relationship between tight sperm binding in the HZA and sperm fertilizing ability in in vitro fertilization (IVF). In each controlled assay, the authors compared sperm binding of proven fertile men with that of patients undergoing IVF. Human oocytes stored in a salt solution were used in the study, and binding results were correlated with the fertilization rate of preovulatory oocytes during IVF. Patients with poor fertilization rates in IVF had significantly lower binding than those cases with successful fertilization (7.3 +/- 1.4 versus 62.1 +/- 10.9, respectively; mean +/- standard error, P less than 0.02). Based on current standards, the HZA was able to predict fertilization accurately in 26 of 28 cases (sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 83%). The authors conclude that the HZA is a valuable tool for evaluating dysfunctional sperm-zona pellucida binding, with good predictive value for fertilization in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Howard and Georgeanna Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Medical College of Hampton Roads, Norfolk 23507.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Coddington
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Franken
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Burkman
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hodgen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*