Support

On these pages you will find a range of materials designed to help you get the most from your Nidacon products.

Video tutorials

PureSperm Gradient

Before/After Density Gradient

ProInsert

Freezing Sperm

VitalStain

Tips & Tricks

Log in to this section to get the best advice on how to get the most from you Nidacon products and systems. New content regularly.

Is transportation without cold chain safe?

Concerns may arise regarding the effect of extreme weather conditions on product performance. To address these concerns, all Nidacon products undergo rigorous testing for elevated temperatures up to 50°C and down to -18°C over a span of 5 days. The results of these...

DNA fragmentation due to storage

Sperm are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations during storage, it can have a negative effect on both semen motility and DNA integrity. The best way to store the sample is at room temperature (RT). Compared to storage at 37°C, maintaining samples at RT...

Handling of Cryofloater

  Utilizing the Cryofloater facilitates a simple procedure for sperm cryopreservation, resulting in an elevated survival rate. The cryofloater can be used for an extended period, provided that it is handled with care post-procedure due to it being brittle when...

Shelf life after opening

Reminder, the shelf life of all our products remains unchanged even after opening. By storing them in a cool environment and handling them with care, you can ensure they maintain their high-quality performance throughout their entire shelf life. The only exception to...

Viscous Semen Sample

Obtaining satisfactory sperm yield from highly viscous semen samples remains a major problem for laboratories providing Tips and Tricks: Viscous samples can be treated with PureSperm® Buffer. You simply add PureSperm®Buffer to the ejaculate (dilution 1+3), 1 part...

Make the perfect Gradient

Slowly layering gradients with visible rafts between the layers, no more than 60 minutes before use ensures maximum sharpness. The rafts take up a lot of the unwanted components of the ejaculate like dead spermatozoa, other cells etc and the gradient will provide a...

Improve Your Sperm Freezing Procedure

We recommend placing the straws on a pre-cooled steel tray to minimize fluctuations in temperature during equilibration in the refrigerator prior to cryopreservation. This way the straws will stay cold when moving them from the refrigerator and placing them on the...

The tip of the month is to help us improve!

At Nidacon we always want to improve and if you want to help us, please fill out the survey that was sent a couple of days ago. We have heard about problems opening the survey through the provided link. In that case, try copying the link and paste it into the web...

Visit the new Web site from Nidacon

We have had our old web page for many years now. It has been of great help for both us and our customers, but we realised the time had come for an update. The new Nidacon web site is based on more modern techniques and is more structured. The design has the ambition...

Minimizing osmotic changes in the ejaculate

The outcome of a sperm preparation can be affected by an increased osmolality in the ejaculate. A simple way to minimize the increase of osmolality is by early dilution of the ejaculate. PureSpermBuffer is the perfect buffer to be used for this purpose. Reference:...

Correct opening of bottles featuring flip-off tear-off seals

We know that opening PureSperm bottles can be tricky if not performed the correct way the first time around. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to provide a short visual of what happens when the seal is pulled on an angle compared to the proper method of...

Manuals

Technical Product Manual
pdf

FAQ

PureSperm 100

What medium should I use for diluting PureSperm 100?

PureSperm Buffer is the best media to use when diluting PureSperm100. It has been optimised and ionically balanced to best match PureSperm.

Is there any human serum albumin in PureSperm 100?

Our lab research has shown that the yield of motile sperm recovered from the gradient was approximately the same, regardless of whether the gradient layers contained human serum albumin or not. Therefore, we have not deemed it necessary to include any protein in PureSperm 100. The colloid in these products eliminates aggregation of sperm and reduces their sticking to the centrifuge tube. However, human serum albumin must be added to the “wash” solution, as provided in PureSperm Wash.

Are antibiotics included in PureSperm 100?

No, PureSperm 100 does not contain antibiotics. They are not included for the following reasons:

  1. The gradient will remove most, if not all, of the bacterial contamination present in the ejaculate, provided that the retrieval of the sperm pellet is carried out according to the instructions given in the package insert.
  2. Antibiotics commonly used in cell culture media are toxic to sperm.
What should be used for washing the sperm pellet after the PureSperm 100 gradient centrifugation?

We recommend PureSperm Wash for washing the sperm pellet after gradient centrifugation. The ionic balance of PureSperm Wash lies between that of the gradient and commonly used fertilisation media and will not therefore cause premature hyperactivation of the sperm. PureSperm Wash is also ready-to-use and contains an appropriate level of human serum albumin.

 

Why do I need to buy a separate product, such as PureSperm Buffer, to dilute PureSperm 100? Could I use PureSperm Wash instead?

You can use PureSperm Wash to dilute PureSperm. However, a comparison in our laboratories has shown that you will obtain a better motile sperm yield by using PureSperm Buffer which has been optimised for this purpose.

Does one need to incubate PS100 and PS40/80 in 5-6% CO², 37°C before use?

The most important thing is to avoid temperature fluctuation in the sperm sample. Ejaculate has a temperature of approximately room temperature or slightly higher. We therefore recommend equilibrating PureSperm to room temperature, no more. The preparation is also processed at room temperature, so this means that an equivalent temperature is maintained.

PureSperm 40/80

What diluent has been added to PureSperm to produce PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80?

PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80 are not simply diluted PureSperm 100; they are optimised products in their own right. However, the colloid, salts, and buffering capacity of these products have been optimised to provide the ideal “40%” and “80%” gradient layers.

Is there any human serum albumin in PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80?

Our lab research has shown that the yield of motile sperm recovered from the gradient was approximately the same, regardless of whether the gradient layers contained human serum albumin or not. Therefore, we have not deemed it necessary to include any protein in PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80. The colloid in these products eliminates aggregation of sperm and reduces their sticking to the centrifuge tube. However, human serum albumin must be added to the “wash” solution, as provided in PureSperm Wash.

Are antibiotics included in PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80?

No, PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80 do not contain antibiotics. They are not included for the following reasons:

  1. The gradient will remove most, if not all, of the bacterial contamination present in the ejaculate, provided that the retrieval of the sperm pellet is carried out according to the instructions given in the package insert.
  2. Antibiotics commonly used in cell culture media are toxic to sperm.

 

What is the buffer component of PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80?

PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80 contain a Hepes buffer to avoid pH fluctuations which might be harmful to sperm.

What should be used for washing the sperm pellet after the PureSperm 40 and PureSperm 80 gradient centrifugation?

We recommend PureSperm Wash for washing the sperm pellet after gradient centrifugation. The ionic balance of PureSperm Wash lies between that of the gradient and commonly used fertilisation media and will not therefore cause premature hyperactivation of the sperm. PureSperm Wash is also ready-to-use and contains an appropriate level of human serum albumin.

Does one need to incubate PS100 and PS40/80 in 5-6% CO², 37°C before use?

The most important thing is to avoid temperature fluctuation in the sperm sample. Ejaculate has a temperature of approximately room temperature or slightly higher. We therefore recommend equilibrating PureSperm to room temperature, no more. The preparation is also processed at room temperature, so this means that an equivalent temperature is maintained.

PureSperm Buffer

How do I use PureSperm Buffer?

PureSperm Buffer is used to dilute PureSperm 100 to obtain the layers of different densities required for a discontinuous density gradient. PureSperm Buffer has been carefully formulated to give optimal results when used according to the manufacturer´s instructions. It is ready-to-use, no additives being required.

Why do I need to use PureSperm Buffer to dilute PureSperm 100?

A comparative analysis has shown that you will obtain a better yield of motile sperm by using PureSperm Buffer for diluting PureSperm than by using non-optimised products. Commercially available culture media, washing media, or salt solutions such as Earle’s ´Balanced Salt Solution have not been optimised for this purpose and also require other ingredients need to be added before use, thus increasing the cost.

Why do I need to buy a separate product, such as PureSperm Buffer to dilute PureSperm 100? Could I use PureSperm Wash instead?

Yes, you can use PureSperm Wash to dilute PureSperm 100. However, a comparison in our laboratories has shown that you will obtain a better yield of motile sperm from using PureSperm Buffer which has been optimised for this purpose.

Should I equilibrate PureSperm Buffer before use?

If a bottle of PureSperm Buffer has been previously opened and then stored in the refrigerator, it should be brought up to room temperature before use to avoid cold-shocking the sperm. It is not necessary to equilibrate PureSperm Buffer in the CO² incubator before use.

Are there any antibiotics in PureSperm Buffer ?

No, PureSperm Buffer does not contain antibiotics. Many commonly used antibiotics are toxic to sperm. Furthermore, antibiotics such as penicillin, have a very short half-life in solution. When used according to the manufacturer´s instructions, the PureSperm density gradient will enable an uncontaminated sperm preparation to be obtained from the semen sample.

PureSperm Wash

When should PureSperm Wash be used?

We recommend PureSperm Wash for washing the sperm pellet after centrifugation using a PureSperm density gradient. The ionic balance of PureSperm Wash lies between that of the gradient and commonly used fertilisation media and, therefore, will not cause premature hyperactivation of the sperm. PureSperm Wash is also ready-to-use and contains an appropriate level of human serum albumin.

What are the constituents of PureSperm Wash?

PureSperm Wash is an isotonic (290-300 mOsm/kg H2O), HEPES-buffered salt solution containing glucose, EDTA, and human serum albumin.

Is there any protein in PureSperm Wash?

Yes. Research in our laboratory showed that human serum albumin must be added to the PureSperm Wash to prevent sperm sticking to plastic-ware and microscope slides.

Are antibiotics included in PureSperm Wash?

No, PureSperm Wash does not contain antibiotics. First of all, antibiotics commonly used in cell culture media are toxic to sperm and the gradient will remove most, if not all, of the bacterial contamination present in the ejaculate, provided that the retrieval of the sperm pellet is carried out according to the instructions given in the package insert.

Should PureSperm Wash be refrigerated?

PureSperm Wash is supplied as a sterile solution which does not need refrigerated storage in the unopened bottle. After opening (under sterile conditions), however, PureSperm Wash should be kept at 2-8°C.

 

PureSperm SpeediKit

What tools do I need to perform the sperm preparation using Speedikit?

You only need a centrifuge and some sterile pipettes. PureSperm Speedikit includes the prefilled tubes for both separation and washing of the sample.

Do I need an incubator for performing a sperm preparation with Speedikit?

No, the whole procedure is performed at room temperature.

ProInsert

I have a very viscous sample; will it go through the ProInsert?

It will, but you can improve the outcome by treating your viscous sample with PureSperm Buffer before use. Dilute your sample with PureSperm Buffer 1+3 incubate in 37°C for 15-30 minutes, mix and it’s ready for the density gradient preparation. You can find more information on our website.

SpermCatch

Can one use the same protocol for SpermCatch as we have for PVP products?

Yes, you can use SpermCatch in the same way as products containing PVP.

NidOil

Why is NidOil packed in amber bottles?

There have been several reports of other commercially available paraffin oils becoming embryo–toxic after exposure to light on the laboratory bench. Therefore, NidOil is packed in amber bottles as a precaution against light-induced changes to the product.

Should I equilibrate NidOil in the CO² incubator before use?

Yes, NidOil should be equilibrated in the same way as the culture medium before use to avoid differences in temperature and gaseous content between the components of the culture system.

Sperm CryoProtec

What survival rates should we expect after freezing/thawing?

The number of sperm cells surviving a freezing procedure can vary significantly between samples. Analyses on freezing/thawing donor samples however has shown average survival rates of between 65-70%. (“Survival” has been defined as the number of motile sperm cells after thawing compared to the number of motile sperm cells before freezing.)

Can I use Sperm CryoProtec for TESE?

Yes, you can. There is no need to add anything; it’s as simple and easy as using Sperm CryoProtec with ejaculated sperm.

Do I need to add egg-yolk to Sperm CryoProtec before use?

No, you don’t. Sperm CryoProtec is a ready-to-use freezing medium which doesn’t require any additives. Just follow the instructions and your sperm will be able to be safely frozen and thawed.

Does Sperm CryoProtec contain antibiotics?

No, none of our products contains any antibiotics. Adding antibiotics would significantly reduce the shelf life of our products and could “mask” post-sterilisation contamination of the product

Sperm VitalStain

How many cells do I need to count?

We recommend that you count 200 sperm to get an accurate classification. The 100x objective with immersion oil will give you a very clear picture of the stained versus unstained sperm cells.

If the sperm is only coloured at the neck is classifies as dead or alive?

It’s classified as alive.

VitriBlast

Can Blastocysts cultured in any culture media be vitrified with your kits?

VitriBlast /ThermoBlast kit can be used to freeze blastocysts that have been cultured in any culture media.

What device should I use with the VitriBlast kit?

Any device can be used but our general recommendation is to use a closed-system.

Is DMSO more harmful than other cryoprotectants?

No. In general, DMSO is actually one of the least harmful organic solvents. It has a very low toxicity and is not genotoxic, nor mutagenic or carcinogenic.

DMSO is an FDA approved drug used to treat interstitial cystitis, but has been (and is still) widely used to treat various diseases including arthritis, local pains, inflammation, infections (herpes), autoimmune diseases, and gastric ulcer.

In embryology, DMSO was reported to protect membranes better than other cryoprotectants. It is less toxic than propylene glycol and is the standard component of the world’s most successful vitrification mixtures (both human and zoological).

ThermoBlast

Can Blastocysts cultured in any culture media be vitrified with your ?

Yes. VitriBlast /ThermoBlast kits can be used to freeze blastocysts that have been cultured in any culture media.

 

 

To get the correct RPM

It is important to have the correct g-force and we advise you to use the equation to make sure it’s the recommended g-force for the centrifugation.

To achieve the correct g force:
RPM = √[g/(r × 1.118)] × 1 × 103

r = rotational radius, the distance (mm) from the centre of the rotor to the bottom of a centrifuge tube in the bucket when raised to horizontal position.

Put in your numbers and you will receive the desired RPM.