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Sperm Vitality Staining Solution (Eosin-Nigrosin Staining)

Vitality vs. Motility: Differentiating Live and Dead Sperm with Eosin-Nigrosin Staining

What it is

The Sperm Vitality Staining Solution uses the Eosin-Nigrosin method to assess the membrane integrity of spermatozoa. Eosin is a "cell-excluded" dye; it only enters sperm with a damaged cell membrane (dead sperm), staining them pink. Nigrosin acts as a dark background stain to provide sharp contrast for the white (alive) sperm.

Why it is Essential

Vitality testing is clinically mandatory when total motility is below 40%. Differentiating Necrozoospermia: It helps determine if immobile sperm are actually dead (Necrozoospermia) or alive but structurally defective (Asthenozoospermia). ICSI Support: For patients with zero motility, vitality staining is the only way to ensure that "live" sperm are selected for injection.

How it Aligns with Standards

The WHO recommends Eosin-Nigrosin as the Gold Standard because it is non-toxic to the technician and provides a permanent slide. Our solution is calibrated for neutral pH and correct osmolarity to prevent "artifactual" cell death during the staining process.

References

  1. Björndahl L, et al. (2003). "Optimized eosin-nigrosin staining for sperm vitality." Human Reproduction.
  2. WHO (2021). WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, 6th Edition.

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