Objective: To compare the hyaluronan binding assay (HBA) scores of sperm preparation using two different methods, the
swim-up technique and density gradient centrifugation (DGC).
Material and Method: This experimental study used semen specimens from 54 volunteer subjects with normal semen analysis according to the 2010 World Health Organization criteria. Each semen specimen was split into two portions: one was prepared using the swim-up method and the other the DGC method. The prepared sperm were counted in the sperm-HBA slide to determine bound and unbound motile sperm. The HBA scores between the two methods were compared using matched analysis.
Results: The HBA scores by either preparation method were >80%. There was no statistically significant difference in HBA
scores between the swim-up preparation [median 97%, interquartile range (IQR) 94, 98] and density gradient centrifugation [median 96%, IQR 95, 98] (p = 0.96). Ten of the 54 specimens received the same HBA scores following the two methods and none differed by more than +7%.
Conclusion: Both preparation methods gave high HBA scores with no apparent difference in the proportions between
methods.

Keywords: Hyaluronan binding, Spermatozoa, Swim-up, Density gradient centrifugation