Linkam Scientific temperature controlled warm stages chosen for sperm motility in human fertility testing

Tadworth, UK – 16th May 2012: Market leaders in temperature controlled microscopy, Linkam Scientific Instruments, have been chosen by an NHS Fertility clinic as suppliers of a controlled warm stage to perform routine semen analysis at body temperature.

A Scottish NHS laboratory has chosen a Linkam THL60-16 warm stage as a reliable solution for the assessment of sperm motility. About 25% of couples are affected by fertility problems, with around 35% of men sub-fertile and 2% infertile. One of the services provided by the NHS is fertility testing and for men that means assessment of a semen sample. The concentration, motility and the morphology of spermatozoa are all assessed to determine fertility.

Sperm motility is temperature dependent. This warm stage can heat/cool from ambient to 60°C. To establish in-vivo fertility, observations need to be carried out at exactly 37°C to mimic conditions within the human body.

Human sperm viewed under phase contrast. Image is courtesy of the ABA.

The use of a precise, accurate heated warm stage is an essential part of the assessment. This is to ensure the assessment is conducted at a stable and specific temperature. Within the design of this Linkam warm stage a platinum resistor temperature sensor is used for higher accuracy and stability. A sophisticated CAD designed bi-filar heating element covers the entire working surface which provides a uniform temperature distribution in the sample slide. The Linkam stage gives the assessor the confidence that all samples are observed at a stable, set temperature.

A wet preparation is created for assessment. A sample is placed onto a clean glass slide and covered with a 22x22mm coverslip to provide a chamber approximately 20µm deep. The weight of the cover slip spreads the sample. Scientists initially look for aggregation or agglutination, and the presence of non-spermatozoa cells. The preparation is then observed at x400 magnification with a phase contrast microscope to observe motility. Each warm plate -designed by Linkam- is incredibly thin, as little as 0.5mm. This ensures that high resolution objective and condenser lenses can be used. Approximately 200 spermatozoa are counted and categorized to determine the percentage of each category. Spermatozoa can be classified as progressively motile, non-progressively motile or non-motile. The percentage of progressively motile sperm is important to fertility assessment.

Linkam warm stages are found in cell biology labs, hospitals and IVF clinics all over the world. The Linkam warm stages provide a simple, accurate, low cost temperature controlled platform that can heat/cool samples from ambient to 60°C.

The design, reliability and versatility make the Linkam warm stage an essential tool for sperm motility testing.

Visit Linkam at www.linkam.co.uk and learn about the broad range of applications in the field of temperature controlled microscopy.

About Linkam Scientific Instruments
Linkam develops and manufactures a broad range of heating and freezing stages for both OEM and end users to visualize and explore materials properties. Used in conjunction with light microscopes and other forms of spectroscopy, Linkam stages are found in thousands of laboratories worldwide with the most successful microscope heating stage, the THMS600, selling over 4,000 units alone. Linkam is the market leader in temperature controlled microscopy.

Contact details:

Linkam Scientific Instruments Limited
8 Epsom Downs Metro Centre
Waterfield
Tadworth
Surrey KT20 5HT
T +44 (0)1737 363476
F +44 (0)1737 363480
www.linkam.co.uk
ian@linkam.co.uk or
carolinefeltham@linkam.co.uk

Talking Science Limited
39 de Bohun Court
Saffron Walden
Essex CB10 2BA
T +44 (0)1799 521881
M +44 (0)7843 012997
www.talking-science.com
jezz@talking-science.com