Contact Us

Our Location

Address: 2F, Block B, Shenchengtou & Zhongcheng Life Science Park, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Contact

Email: market@isperm.com

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Semen Sample Collection
    The semen diluent should be fresh, sterile, and stored at 5°C for no more than 72 hours. Samples should be diluted and aliquoted in the lab into 50μl or 25μl volumes, then stored and transported in liquid nitrogen.
  2. Semen Color and Odor Evaluation
    Color: Normal semen is milky white to light gray, varying in opacity with density.
    • Cattle/sheep semen: high density, thick milky or yellowish-white
    • Pig/horse semen: lower density, pale milky or gray-white
    Abnormal colors may indicate contamination or health issues:
    • Greenish: pus contamination
    • Yellow: urine contamination
    • Red/pink: blood (stop collection)
    • Reddish-brown: possible old injury
    • Flaky material: possible seminal vesicle inflammation
    Note: Jelly-like clots are common in pig/horse semen and usually normal.
    Odor:
    • Cattle and sheep: no distinct odor or mild sweaty smell
    • Pigs and horses: slightly fishy
    Foul or unusual odors may indicate infection—discard the sample and suspend collection.
  3. Sperm Concentration
    Sperm concentration refers to the number of sperm cells per milliliter and directly influences dilution rates and fertility. It's a vital parameter for semen quality evaluation.
  4. Sperm Motility
    Motility, or vitality, is the percentage of sperm showing forward movement. It directly affects the ability to fertilize and is a key metric in semen quality.
  5. Sperm Longevity and Survival Index
    Sperm survival time is crucial for assessing fertilizing capability.
    Method: Store fresh or thawed semen at 37–38°C, then assess motility at regular intervals until no motile sperm remain.
    • Survival time = Total time from first to last check minus half of the final interval
    • Survival index = Sum of (motility score × time interval) for all checks
  6. Sperm Morphology
    Abnormal sperm morphology reduces fertility. Evaluation includes:
    • Primary abnormalities (originating in the testes): large/small heads, double heads, acrosome defects, etc.
    • Secondary abnormalities (post-ejaculation deformities)
    • Tertiary abnormalities (due to improper storage): acrosome swelling or loss
    Acrosome defects:
    • Normal rates: ~5.9% in cattle, ~2.3% in pigs
    • Post-preservation: can exceed 14% (cattle) or 4.3% (pigs), negatively affecting fertility

Let SQA-6100vet Handle It All
The SQA-6100vet is a fully automated, cutting-edge CASA system designed for livestock semen analysis. It features the world's only built-in heating stage, advanced Gaussian-based AI algorithms, precision microfluidic counting chips, and autofocus technology. Capable of analyzing sperm concentration, total count, motility, motion characteristics, and even morphology with speed and accuracy, it supports raw semen testing and automatically calculates optimal dilution and distribution ratios—streamlining the entire testing process from start to finish.

  1. What is sperm DNA integrity testing?
    Sperm DNA integrity testing is an assessment of the degree of damage to the DNA within sperm cells. It is also known as sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing. This includes various forms of DNA damage such as base mismatches, deletions, modifications, adducts and crosslinks, and single- or double-strand breaks.
  2. What causes increased sperm DNA fragmentation?
    DNA fragmentation can occur during sperm production and maturation in the testes, or during sperm transport through the male reproductive tract. The primary causes are spermatogenic dysfunction or oxidative stress.
    Clinically, common contributors to sperm DNA damage include:
    • Advanced paternal age
    • Varicocele
    • Infections of the accessory glands
    Other contributing factors include unhealthy lifestyle habits such as obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to high temperatures, and the use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy drugs.
  3. How does sperm DNA fragmentation affect fertility?
    According to expert consensus from WHO, ESHRE, and ASRM, sperm DNA fragmentation—since it affects the genetic material carried by sperm—can impair fertilization or embryonic development, ultimately leading to infertility or miscarriage.
  4. How can elevated sperm DNA fragmentation be improved?
    1. Lifestyle modifications
      Quit smoking and alcohol, exercise moderately, maintain a healthy weight and regular routine, and avoid prolonged exposure to harmful environments such as radiation and high temperatures.
    2. Antioxidant therapy
      Common antioxidants used to reduce DNA fragmentation include:
      • Vitamin C
      • Vitamin E
      • L-carnitine
      • Coenzyme Q10
      • N-acetylcysteine
      • Folic acid
      • Zinc
      • Selenium
      • Lycopene
      • Astaxanthin
      These are currently widely used in managing elevated sperm DNA fragmentation.
    3. Varicocele surgery
      In infertile men with varicocele, varicocelectomy can reduce oxidative stress, significantly lower DNA fragmentation, and improve pregnancy rates both naturally and with assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
    4. Optimized handling in assisted reproduction
      • Shorten the abstinence period before sperm collection
      • Minimize lab-induced sperm DNA damage during semen processing
      • Use sperm selection techniques
      • Consider testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)

Yes, we offer CASA systems and test kits for both human and veterinary applications, including animal reproduction, clinical diagnostics, and research.