Exact® – Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) Test for Advanced Diagnosis
A Deeper Look at Sperm DNA Quality and Male Fertility
A standard semen analysis tells you about sperm number, movement, and shape. But it cannot reveal the quality of the genetic material carried inside the sperm. The Exact Total Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) Test goes deeper by directly measuring the total amount of DNA damage in sperm – providing a more complete picture of fertility potential.
What does the Exact Test measure?
Exact measures total SDF damage – both single-strand and double-strand DNA breaks – providing the most comprehensive assessment of sperm DNA integrity available. This gives you and your clinician clearer insights than semen analysis alone, helping you make informed, evidence-based decisions for your fertility journey.
Sperm DNA Damage Can Help Explain Unexplained Infertility
Even when semen analysis results are normal, high DNA damage can reduce the chances of conception.
Lifestyle, Health & Environmental Factors Can Affect Sperm DNA Fragmentation
DNA fragmentation can be affected by lifestyle (e.g. diet, alcohol, smoking), environment (e.g., exposure to excessive heat, toxins), or by certain health conditions (e.g. infection, varicocele). Knowing your total SDF damage score helps to identify whether targeted changes can be made to try to improve your sperm health.
How the Exact Test Works
The ISO-accredited Exact test is based on our SpermComet® assay, which applies a highly sensitive technique called single-cell gel electrophoresis. This method gently unwinds the tightly packed DNA within each sperm cell so that any DNA fragmentation present can be directly measured.
Other tests only estimate susceptibility to DNA damage, but Exact provides a direct measurement of the DNA damage itself – making it the most accurate and clinically useful test for Total SDF damage.