Clinical Trial
A clinical study, approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), designed for the purpose of evaluating the outcome of a new medical procedure.
Collaborator
A physician or health care provider who has executed a formal agreement with MicroSort to participate in the MicroSort clinical trial and follow guidelines approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Cryopreservation
The process of cooling and storing cells at a temperature below the freezing point (-196 C) that provides high survivability when thawed.
Cryoprotectant
A chemical component of the freezing solution used in cryopreservation that protects the cells from freeze damage.
Cycle
A menstrual cycle which begins on the first day (designated as "day 1") of menstrual bleeding.
Enriched (sorted) sample
The resulting portion of the semen specimen after MicroSort sperm separation that contains an increased number of sperm cells of the desired gender.
Flow cytometer
A scientific instrument used to measure physiological and chemical characteristics of individual cells.
Fluorescence activated cell sorter
A flow cytometer that is modified for the purpose of separating (sorting) cells based on the amount of light (fluorescence) emitted from each cell.
Informed consent
A document that, when signed by a patient, acknowledges he/she has been informed of the risks and benefits of a medical procedure and has had the opportunity to ask questions with all questions having been answered.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
A laboratory procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg cell for the purpose of attempting fertilization.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
A relatively simple clinical procedure in which a sperm sample is inserted through the natural opening of the uterus (cervix) and deposited directly into the uterus using a fine insemination catheter for the purpose of attaining fertilization and pregnancy.
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
A laboratory procedure in which fertilization is attempted by placing sperm cells in a special dish with unfertilized eggs. The resulting embryos can subsequently be transferred into the uterus or cryopreserved for future use.
Sort
The process of using MicroSort flow cytometry to separate the X- or Y-bearing sperm.
X Chromosome-bearing or X-bearing
Sperm cells that contain the X (female) chromosome and will subsequently result in a female offspring after fertilization.
Y Chromosome-bearing or Y-bearing
Sperm cells that contain the Y (male) chromosome and will subsequently result in a male offspring after fertilization.
