The hypoosmotic test is a test to assess sperm vitality, although it is a technique little used today. It involves putting the sperm in a hypotonic medium, which causes an osmotic imbalance between the extracellular and intracellular medium.
In this way, it is possible to distinguish between:
- Live spermatozoa: they react to the change of medium, causing the tail to curl.
- Dead spermatozides: they do not react to the hypotonic medium, so they show the smooth thing.
To obtain a reliable result of the vitality test, it is necessary to study at least 200 sperm. When the percentage of live sperm is greater than 58%, it will be said that the sperm vitality is correct. However, if the percentage of live sperm is less than 58%, the seminal sample will be diagnosed as necrozoospermia.
Read the full article on: Which Methods Are Used to Assess Sperm Vitality? ( 39).
By Álvaro Martínez Moro B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Andrea Rodrigo B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Sergio Rogel Cayetano M.D. (gynecologist) and Cristina Algarra Goosman B.Sc., M.Sc. (psychologist).
Last Update: 01/14/2025
