Measuring the semen fertility with your cell phone is already possible

A team of scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (USA) have developed a device for the mobile phone that allows the analysis of the body’s concentration and motility in a homemade but successful way. Sperm with 98% accuracy in just five seconds. The system is fast, effective and its cost is barely exceeds 4 euros thanks to its components come from 3D printing.

Pregnancy tests have been in the market for years; However, there was nothing similar to evaluate the quality of semen and certainly many men avoid going to the urologist to perform a test of this type because they feel discomfort with it, loading women with responsibility for the possible existence of a problem of fertility In the couple.

And to evaluate the quality of the sperm in your house with a test similar to the one of pregnancy and equal of affordable? It is already possible thanks to this device of low cost that, simply counting on a smartphone, is able to analyze semen samples to check the male fertility in a few seconds.

More than 45 million couples are affected by fertility problems

«It is estimated that male infertility plays a role in approximately 40% of cases, underscoring the need for more routine and reliable semen analysis,» the authors explain.

The details of the device

The prototype features elements printed in 3D and takes advantage of the processing power and camera found in most smartphones. Thus, an optical accessory connected to the mobile device next to a disposable device (a microchip with a capillary tip and a rubber bulb) in which the semen sample is put together make everything necessary.

The researchers have also created an application that guides the user in each step and a miniaturized weight scale that connects wirelessly to the mobile to measure the total sperm count.

In laboratory experiments, scientists analyzed 350 semen clinical specimens from the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, the device being able to detect abnormal semen samples with 98% accuracy.

After carrying out additional tests with the prototype, the experts will seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for further commercialization.

The study has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Source.I21