Assessing the predictive value of hyaluronan binding ability for the freezability potential of human sperm.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of a sperm maturation test using the hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA) for freezability potential; and to determine the effect of freezing-thawing on HBA results.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Andrology laboratory at a teaching hospital.

Patient(s): Candidates for sperm bank donation (n = 113) and active sperm bank donors (n = 16).

Intervention(s): Semen analyses including HBA and sperm freezing-thawing.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Percentage of sperm HBA results and other sperm parameters in relation to freezing-thawing results.

Result(s): The predictive value of HBA for high freezability value (>or=40% postthaw motility) was significant. However, 1- and 4-hour percentage of motility had a higher predictive value for good freezability. A better prognostic value than that of HBA resutlts was also found for sperm concentration and percentage of normal morphology. Freezing-thawing had no significant influence on HBA results.

Conclusion(s): To the best of our knowledge this is the first demonstration that sperm maturation, determined by the HBA test, has a low value for predicting freezing-thawing sperm survival.