MiOXSYS: a novel method of measuring oxidation reduction potential in semen and seminal plasma.

OBJECTIVE

To measure oxidative reduction potential (ORP) in semen and seminal plasma and to establish their reference levels.

DESIGN

ORP levels were measured in semen and seminal plasma.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital.

SUBJECT(S): Twenty-six controls and 33 infertile men.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Static ORP (sORP) and capacitance ORP (cORP) were measured in semen and seminal plasma at time 0 and 120 minutes. Correlation of ORP was assessed between [1] semen and seminal plasma and [2] time 0 and 120 minutes. The association with sperm parameters was studied in (a) controls and (b) infertile patients, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to establish the sORP cutoff.

RESULT(S): Semen sORP and cORP levels were associated with seminal plasma levels at time 0 and time 120 minutes. In controls and infertile patients, an inverse relationship of sORP levels was established with concentration and total sperm count in semen as well as seminal plasma at time 0 and 120 minutes. Classification of subjects based on sperm motility showed that subjects with abnormal motility present with poor concentration, total count, morphology, and elevated levels of semen and seminal plasma sORP at time 120 minutes. The sORP cutoff of 1.48 in semen and 2.09 in seminal plasma based on motility was able to distinguish subjects with normal semen quality from those with abnormal semen quality.

CONCLUSION(S): The MiOXSYS System can reliably measure ORP levels in semen and seminal plasma. ORP levels are not affected by semen age, making this new technology easy to employ in a clinical setting.