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Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in ejaculate, and it is a condition that about 10 – 15 % of the men that seeks treatment for infertility are diagnosed with. Some types of azoospermia can be amended through surgery where sperm are retrieved directly from the testicles or the epididymis. This brings the risk of a large number of erythrocytes in the sample which obstruct the visualisation of the spermatozoa and result in long search times for the embryologist.

The aim of this study was to evaluate two different kits for separation of erytrocyter from sperm samples in terms of efficiency and gentleness towards the spermatozoa. 

The kits being evaluated were MACSxpress® Erythrocyte Depletion Kit and Red Blood Cell Lysis Solution (10×). A third kit, Dead Cell Removal Kit, was used to estimate the number of spermatozoa left alive after the analysis. Leftover material from preparated sperm samples (n=21) and unpreparated sperm samples (n=3) were mixed with blood and analysed using the kits. The number of erythrocytes and spermatozoa were counted before, after and compared between the kits using a Makler chamber.

Both kits successfully removed erythrocytes from the sample although MACSxpress® Erythrocyte Depletion Kit was more effective. Both kits were also gentle towards the spermatozoa since there were no significant difference between the two kits in number of spermatozoa still alive. However further study is needed to determine whether one of the kits are preferable to the other.