sperm penetration assay


sperm penetration assay

A specialised fertility test that assesses sperm cell ability to fuse with (penetrate) an ovum (egg).
Method
Human sperm are mixed with hamster eggs in vitro and the number of sperm that penetrate the egg (sperm capacitation index) is measured.

sperm penetration assay

A test to evaluate male fertility in which a sample of sperm is added to hamster eggs whose zona pellucida has been removed. The number of sperm that penetrate each egg is measured and compared to a normal value. Synonym: hamster zona-free ovum testSee also: assay