Scientists have developed a ‘first of its kind’ rapid at–home sperm test, which can check male fertility in just 15 minutes.
The test uses the same technology found in Covid tests, and simply requires a single semen sample.
Best of all, it can be used from home – meaning men can check the quality of their sperm without needing to visit a specialist clinic.
Its development comes amid growing concerns about male reproductive health.
Global sperm counts having more than halved over the past 50 years, according to Professor Simone Immler, professor of Genetics and Reproduction at the University of East Anglia’s School of Biological Sciences.
She said: ‘Male fertility and reproductive health have been ill–served until now.
‘One in six couples are affected by fertility issues of which approximately 50 per cent can be assigned to the male partner.
‘In recent years, on average, sperm count has halved due to the impacts of climate change, increased stress, chemical additives in food, obesity and unhealthy diets.’
The test uses the same technology found in Covid tests, and simply requires a single semen sample
Virilitas Labs, a spin–out from the University of East Anglia, set out to develop a test that provides a more accurate picture of male fertility. Pictured: Professor Simone Immler (left) and Dr Daniel Marcu (right)
Several male fertility tests are already available on the UK highstreet.
However, Professor Immler explains that most of these have at least one limitation.
‘Lateral flow devices currently on the market are inaccurate and cover only one factor, namely sperm number or motility, which is the ability of sperm to swim effectively towards an egg,’ she explained.
‘This in itself is not a good measurement of overall male reproductive health or fertility.’
Instead, Virilitas Labs, a spin–out from the University of East Anglia, set out to develop a test that provides a more accurate picture of male fertility.
Their test uses the same lateral flow technology found in Covid–19 tests, and analyses multiple biomarkers linked to fertility and reproductive health.
In addition, it pairs with a smartphone app, which provides users with personalised guidance based on lifestyle and health behaviours.
Based on their results, users can also connect with fertility specialists via the app.
Dr Daniel Marcu, an expert in reproductive genetics at UEA, said: ‘Men don’t engage with fertility care because there is no clear entry point designed for them.
‘We’re building Virilitas to solve that.
‘The combination of our app, home testing kit and tech platform is designed to take users from confusion to action and ultimately into the right clinical support.’
Overall, the team hopes the home test will make testing easier and more accessible for men in the UK.
Professor Immler added: ‘Our proposition will hopefully start some serious dialogue on this issue and begin to provide people confronting infertility issues with clear guidance and measures of reproductive health that will help, support and signpost them towards resources that can make a difference.
‘We are looking forward to finishing off the development work on our platform and testing kit and then scaling up with a manufacturer to make access to them as wide as possible.
‘We are in active discussions with distributors in the UK and internationally to make our kit affordable and to enable customers to access a male fertility assessment without the need for a clinical referral.’
It remains unclear how much the test will cost.
The Daily Mail has contacted the researchers for confirmation.
