Loskutoff NM, Huyser C, Singh R, Walker DL, Thornhill AR, Morris L, Webber L. Use of a novel washing method combining multiple density gradients and trypsin for removing human immunodeficiency virus-1 and hepatitis C virus from semen.
Fertil Steril 2006;
84:1001-10. [PMID:
16213856 DOI:
10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.03.082]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2004] [Revised: 03/23/2005] [Accepted: 03/23/2005] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a novel treatment designed to remove human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) from spiked semen and to evaluate sperm motility and viability after treatment.
DESIGN
A prospective clinical laboratory-based study.
SETTING
The human studies were conducted in academic and national research environments. The bovine study was conducted in an accredited research facility.
PATIENT(S)
Healthy volunteers provided the semen samples used in the human studies; abattoir-derived material was used for the bovine embryo production study.
INTERVENTIONS(S)
None.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Cytopathic, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and branched DNA assays were used to test the efficacy of the procedure for inactivating or removing viruses from spiked semen; standard semen evaluation criteria were used to assess the effects of the procedures on sperm motility and viability.
RESULT(S)
Trypsin exposure significantly reduced the infectivity of HIV-1. The triple density gradient treatment, with or without trypsin, had no detrimental affect on fresh or cryopreserved/thawed sperm 2-48 hours after treatment. The treatment of semen spiked with HIV-1 or HCV indicated that the procedure was effective for reducing viral copies to undetectable levels or below levels of clinical relevance.
CONCLUSION(S)
The procedure was effective for significantly inactivating or reducing HIV-1 and HCV in spiked semen without adversely affecting sperm quality.
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