How Do You Test Sperm Vitality?

Sperm vitality is an important factor to consider when testing for male fertility.¹ The doctors recommend a sperm vitality test when the total sperm motility is found to be less than 40%.² The test is commonly conducted in andrology labs and assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics.²

Its two most common methods are Eosin-nigrosin staining and Hypoosmotic swelling test.² In the former, the semen sample is mixed with staining dye and smeared on a slide which is then observed under a microscope.²

Whereas in the latter, the intactness of the sperm’s membrane is tested. The membrane is semi-permeable in live cells. Therefore, cells with intact membranes (live cells) will swell in hypotonic solutions.²