The Swimcount® Harvester - Tips and Tricks
The SwimCount® Harvester: Tips and Tricks
The SwimCount® Harvester is a premium sperm preparation device designed to help isolate a highly motile, functional sperm population through a streamlined, easy-to-use process. By limiting handling steps, it supports consistency in the lab while helping teams focus on selecting the best possible sperm for patients.
Based on customer feedback and shared laboratory experience, we wanted to pass along a few practical tips that may help you get the very best out of your SwimCount® Harvester.
Add the semen slowly
When introducing semen into the device, add the sample slowly to support controlled loading and help prevent semen from passing through the membrane.
Do not exceed the device-specified semen volume
The maximum semen volume is 1 mL for the 1 mL device and 3 mL for the 3 mL device. A clearly visible air bubble will be present within the device; this is intentional and by design. Exceeding the specified volume may force semen through the membrane pores, which may lead to a poorer-quality final aspirate.
Do not add more than 0.8 mL wash overlay (sperm preparation medium)
Use a wash overlay volume not exceeding 0.8 mL in either the 1 mL or 3 mL device to provide additional margin during filling. At this volume, the intentionally present air bubble remains clearly visible and serves as a visual indicator of appropriate overlay volume.
Shorter incubation and smaller aspirates may be sufficient for excellent samples
For excellent semen samples, shorter incubation times may be adequate. In some cases, aspirating a smaller volume (for example, 0.5 mL) may be sufficient, helping to focus on a highly selected sperm population.
Remove the aspirate slowly
When removing the aspirated fraction, draw the fluid off slowly to avoid pressure changes that could pull semen from the lower chamber into the aspirate. Typically, you can only aspirate 90–95% of the original sperm preparation medium. Do not tilt the device to try to remove the full 0.8 mL.
Keep the aspirate at room temperature (WHO laboratory manual, 6th ed., 2021)
Once the sperm aspirate has been removed from the device, keeping the sample at room temperature prior to use for either ICSI or conventional IVF may be beneficial. If there is any delay before use—particularly for longer holding periods, including overnight storage or preparation for Day 1 ICSI—maintaining the aspirate at room temperature rather than at 37°C may help preserve sperm quality. Several studies have reported that prolonged exposure to 37°C can negatively affect motility, DNA integrity, and overall sperm function.
Use at least ~20-fold dilution for conventional IVF
When using the prepared sample for conventional IVF, a substantial dilution when adding sperm to the oocyte culture medium is important. A dilution of at least 20-fold is commonly used to support an appropriate sperm concentration at insemination.
Watch the instructional video
This SwimCount® Harvester best-practice video provides a clear, step-by-step visual walkthrough of correct loading, volume control, incubation, and aspiration. Many of the points outlined above are illustrated particularly well in the video, making it a valuable reference when integrating the device into routine workflows or training new team members.
We hope these shared insights are helpful as you incorporate the SwimCount® Harvester into your lab processes. As always, we value feedback and are happy to hear about your experience.
