Low cost, automated smartphone based assay for semen analysis

PROJECT SUMMARY Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing more about their own healthOne of the most familiar direct to consumer diagnostic tests has been the home pregnancy testWe report a practical approach towards developing a new point of care diagnostic test for another reproductive health need the assessment of male fertilityTraditionallymen are less likely to seek medical attention for fertility concerns than their female partnersalthough millennial males are more interested in fertility testingA delay in diagnosis of male factor infertility may prolong the infertility treatment process for the couple and result in unnecessary interventions for the female partnerManual microscopic testing and computer assisted semen analysisCASAtechnology are expensive and require significant technical skill to useThe idea of an at homeaffordable testing platform to screen for an abnormal semen analysis would obviate the need for a clinic visit and provide preliminary data to guide referralsOur prototype device has been extensively tested with clinical semen samplesThe preliminary results presented are robust and unbiased and patient results are based on blind evaluation of the technology by comparing our microchip results with standard methodsIn this Fast Track SBIR project we will further optimize the design parameters and develop a best in classcellphone based semen analysis device that could be marketed to afor home based testing and bas an inexpensive alternative to CASA in IVF clinics PROJECT NARRATIVE The semen analysis is the cornerstone for the diagnosis of male infertilityManual microscopic testing and computer assisted semen analysis technology are expensive and require significant technical skill to useThe idea of anat homeaffordable testing platform to screen for an abnormal semen analysis would obviate the need for a clinic visit and provide preliminary data to guide referralsA simplerapidinexpensivehome based semen analysis test can shift the paradigm in male infertility diagnosis and management in both developed and developing countries