BUFFALO, N.Y., July 28 (UPI) -- A business in Buffalo, N.Y., offers advanced semen analysis using sperm video transmission online to provide fertility testing.
The company, LifeCell Dx Inc., known as LCDX, was founded by Lani J. Burkman, a reproductive physiologist at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Burkman provided sophisticated sperm evaluation services at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo for 14 years using computer-assisted semen analysis.
The patent-pending technologies make digital semen analysis available to affiliated clinical sites worldwide through the Internet, Burkman said.
Burkman focused on sperm functioning that can predict whether a man is fertile, as well as on studies on marijuana and methamphetamine -- chemicals that alter sperm fertility.
LCDX supplies equipment including a microscope and camera -- at no cost to U.S. and Canadian clinics that become affiliated with the company -- to create a digitized video of the sperm sample. The video is transmitted over the Internet to the LCDX central computer laboratory in Buffalo.
The proprietary videos are analyzed by Burkman and her staff, who provide a detailed LCPredict report to the clinician.
"In the (United States), more than 90 percent of these infertile couples have no easy access to expert andrology testing," Burkman said in a statement. "They are desperate for answers and are looking for specialized help close to home."

--
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
--