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 (≥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.