Comparison between swim-up and glass bead column techniques for the separation of human spermatozoa.

The glass bead column filtration method was compared with the swim-up technique regarding spermatozoa recovery in normal and pathological human semen. The general characteristics of the semen and the spermatic ATP concentration were measured in 67 patients. Samples processed with glass bead columns provided a good amount of motile forms which however, showed less velocity and linearity than in the case of using the swim-up technique. Additionally, the ATP determination in spermatozoa was included.