Oxidation-Reduction Potential Methodology Using the MiOXSYS System

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been extensively studied as a cause of male infertility. Oxidative stress (OS) occurs when the physiological redox balance is disrupted, in which excess ROS overwhelm the neutralizing capacity of antioxidants in the seminal plasma. OS attenuates lipid, protein, and DNA integrity, which mandates quick detection of the insult before the downstream consequences are amplified. Currently, there are a number of assays that can detect only individual components of OS. The MiOXSYS system is a novel technology that measures the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), a direct indicator of OS. It provides a comprehensive measure of OS status, quantifying both oxidants and antioxidants in real time. With a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, the MiOXSYS system provides reference values for OS in semen samples that can help differentiate fertile from infertile semen samples. ORP measurement can be used as an adjunct to basic semen analyses to determine the etiology of male infertility. This chapter outlines a step-by-step protocol for the laboratory measurement of ORP by the MiOXSYS system.