Zona-Free Hamster Egg Penetration Assay: Prognostic Indicator in An Ivf Program

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Abstract
Fertility potential measurements of the zona-free hamster egg bioassay were compared with the in vitro fertilization of human eggs. Sperm from 31 husbands or donors participating in an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program was used in 38 simultaneous inseminations of human and hamster eggs. In 7 out of 31 cases, a positive penetration (hamster) test fertility assessment was obtained in the absence of fertilization of the human eggs, attributable to egg immaturity and in one case to equipment failure. In the remaining 30 cases, fertilization was achieved with at least one egg per case. There were no false-negative assessments. Our results indicate that this bioassay is highly correlated with the fertilization of human eggs in vitro.