Sperm cells have a limited lifespan and undergo a process called apoptosis. Apoptotic sperm cannot be typically distinguished from normal sperm cells. To exclude damaged sperm from the semen sample, the MACS® ART Annexin V system is used.
Sperm DNA damage can be a cause of male infertility. Smoking, environmental pollution, advanced male age, the use of certain medications, as well as various inflammatory diseases that raise the temperature of the testicles, can have a negative impact on this damage.
Sperm with damaged DNA are often unable to fertilize an egg. If a damaged sperm does fertilize an egg, there is a certain chance that the resulting embryo will repair the breaks and damage. If the repair is unsuccessful, it can result in impaired embryo division, halted embryo development, or an early miscarriage.
What can MACS do?
Sperm have a limited lifespan, which varies among individuals and within a sperm population, and they undergo a process called apoptosis. Damaged sperm also perish through apoptosis. In sperm, apoptosis manifests through the exposure of a substance known as phosphatidylserine. Thanks to this, it’s possible to detect and separate these apoptotic sperm.
These sperm are not typically distinguishable from normal sperm. To exclude damaged sperm from a semen sample, the new system MACS® ART Annexin V is utilized.
How does MACS work?
Before separation, the damaged apoptotic sperm are labeled using magnetic nanoparticles and then passed through a column where the apoptotic sperm are captured.
Undamaged, viable sperm pass through the column and are collected for further use. Sperm prepared with this kit can be further used for all fertilization techniques in assisted reproduction (IUI, IVF, ICSI, PICSI).
For whom is MACS suitable?
We recommend sperm selection using the MACS® method for patients with idiopathic infertility, those with insufficient ejaculate quality with a higher amount of DNA fragmentation in sperm, when there’s repeated cessation of embryo development, or when there’s recurrent poor development to the blastocyst stage.
Why use MACS?
MACS® significantly increases the chances of:
- Fertilizing a larger number of eggs
- Obtaining a larger number of embryos
- Further development of a larger number of embryos
Thanks to this, MACS® greatly enhances your chance of conception.
This method is part of the SpermPacket package (for fertilization).
SpermPacket (for fertilization) includes:
ICSI, PICSI
Selection of optimal sperm (Includes two methods of sperm sample processing, chosen in the lab based on previous examinations, patient needs, and current semen analysis parameters: the MACS method – removes defective sperm with fragmented DNA from the ejaculate sample, and the Zymot chip method – gently sorts out the most motile and viable sperm).
Sperm have a limited lifespan and undergo a process called apoptosis. Apoptotic sperm are not typically distinguishable from normal sperm. To exclude damaged sperm from the semen sample, the MACS® ART Annexin V system is used.
