The Sperm Chip is a microchip with microscopic channels that mimics natural selection in the female body. Only the fittest sperm cells with good DNA composition make it to the finish line.
In the female body, a sperm cell covers a long, demanding route before reaching the egg — a natural selection process in which only the best sperm cells survive. Classic ICSI selection lacks that route.
The Sperm Chip brings natural selection back into the laboratory. The semen sample is placed on a microchip with microscopically small channels. Only sperm cells that are sufficiently motile and have good DNA composition manage to cross the channels. The embryologist then uses precisely those sperm cells for fertilisation.
The technique is not suitable for a very low sperm count, or for sperm obtained surgically via TESA/TESE — in those cases there simply aren't enough motile cells for the chip to work with.
The Sperm Chip costs €350 and is combined with your IVF/ICSI treatment.
With ICSI, the embryologist assesses the sperm cell on appearance and motility, but DNA quality isn't directly visible. The chip pre-selects on both motility and DNA integrity, so the embryologist chooses from a better pre-selection.
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