1. The devices are shown before sample has been added
The devices are shown before sample has been added. The top half of the plastic housing has been removed in the image on the right to demonstrate the location of reagent components in the device and illustrates the principles underlying the operation of the test. The assay utilizes a pair of monoclonal antibodies that bind to the sperm acrosomal analyte SP-10, which is released from the sperm head into a detergent containing buffer upon semen addition. When diluted semen is applied (1) to the sample well (S), colloidal gold-conjugated monoclonal anti-SP-10 antibodies present on an absorbent pad inside the cassette (2) are rehydrated and bind to the SP-10 antigens. Monoclonal antibodies specific for an independent epitope on the SP-10 protein (3), dried onto the nitrocellulose membranes at the test position (T), capture the gold-antibody–SP-10 complexes as they flow along the membrane by capillarity, resulting in the development of a visible reddish colored line [the color of colloidal gold]. The development of visible lines at the control position (C) of each test strip indicates that the device has functioned properly and fluid has flowed over the test lines (4). See Materials and Methods for additional details, and Fig. 2 for images of devices showing representative test results.
SpermCheck® Fertility, an immunodiagnostic home test that detects normozoospermia and severe oligozoospermia
Hum Reprod. 2010;25(4): doi: /humrep/dep413
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