HalotechDNA, based in Madrid and founded in 2008, is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to research, development and marketing of solutions in the field of fertility. Our in vitro diagnostic kits, together with support for medical professionals, are a reflection of the innovative and high quality effort we bring to our solutions.
Our goal is to improve and enhance treatment prognoses in the field of fertility, where in vitro solutions make a valuable contribution.
We are deeply proud to be considered a dynamic and innovative company that puts couples at the forefront of our project while we provide solutions in the field of assisted reproduction to make the decision-making process more accurate for medical professionals.
Halotech is recognised for its unique and innovative focus on infertility research, placing our effort and dedication on understanding how we can satisfy the desire of our patients: a successful pregnancy.
Research, innovation, and quality are the pillars for the improvement of assisted reproduction cycles. Our SCD (Sperm Chromatin Dispersion) technique, developed and exclusively patented by Halotech, together with our kits, will guarantee a better understanding of each patient, faster required treatment time, a better quality pregnancy, and a higher success rate. This is the added value that assisted reproduction professionals have cherished in over 50 countries.
Our team advises and supports medical and laboratory professionals so they can obtain the best results for each patient. We are worldwide leaders in the field of DNA fragmentation thanks to our philosophy: understanding that every life is unique.
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The male factor is responsible for 50% of cases of infertility and additionally, 15% of men considered infertile present normal semen analysis results. In both IUI and IVF, the probability of a pregnancy reaching full-term and the rates of live births are dramatically reduced the greater the DNA fragmentation and oxidation of the sample. Levels greater than this percentage influence the rate of fertilization and embryo quality, leading to a greater rate of repeated miscarriage and lower reproductive success. Our kits diagnose these factors and facilitate cycle success for the professional.
Halosperm is an in vitro diagnostic kit that allows the measurement of DNA fragmentation in a fast, easy, and reproducible manner, without the need for complex laboratory equipment. Halosperm allows for an improved evaluation of sperm quality, complementing the information offered by the conventional sperm analysis. Conventional semen analysis only...
Halosperm is an in vitro diagnostic kit that allows the measurement of DNA fragmentation in a fast, easy, and reproducible manner, without the need for complex laboratory equipment. Halosperm allows for an improved evaluation of sperm quality, complementing the information offered by the conventional sperm analysis. Conventional semen analysis only...
Dynhalosperm® has been developed in response to the needs of our clients to evaluate the kinetic aspects of DNA fragmentation.
The interest in the study of the kinetics of fragmentation is growing, because the use of ex vivo sperm samples may produce iatrogenic damage, which differs significantly between individuals. It has...
Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's ability to counteract their potential negative effects. Blockage of oxidative stress is achieved through the action of antioxidant substances, which the body generates itself or which are administered externally.
Changes in the normal redox state of...
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test for Veterinary Use Halomax® is an in vitro diagnostic solution that allows the measurement of sperm DNA fragmentation for every specific animal specie. Halomax® offers a better evaluation of semen quality compared to a traditional method. Spermiogram fails taking into account the most important valuable parameter for a breeder,...
OUR SOLUTIONS
Halotech's solutions arise from our understanding of the need to study and better understand the male factor. We are aware of the reality of the laboratory and the clinic. All of the information that can be provided to the patient is precious, and our kits aim to improve the treatment prognosis for each of them.
An early, comprehensive semen analysis can identify potential problems to avoid embarking upon costly and repeated Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Conventional semen analysis only studies spermatozoa concentration, motility and morphology. It is an incomplete study, as it omits analysis of one of the most important parameters, the integrity of the DNA molecule. In addition, knowing the levels of oxidative stress and the quality of the spermatozoon’s membrane guarantees a better diagnosis for subsequent fertility treatment.
15% of men who are considered infertile present normal semen analysis results:
DNA fragmentation + excessive oxidative stress + and the lack of vitality in the spermatozoon = fertility rate and embryo development failures
DNA fragmentation, excessive oxidative stress, and the lack of vitality in the spermatozoon correlate directly with a low fertility rate and with failures in embryonic development.
This translates into an increase in the number of cycles needed to achieve pregnancy through IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), deterioration of embryo quality and repeated miscarriages. Halotech diagnostic solutions avoid this, providing more information to the medical professional.
The next step is to treat the patient suffering from these problems. Treatment with antioxidants may significantly reduce levels of DNA fragmentation. The response to treatment varies as a function of the causes that can cause said damage: if this results from toxic factors or high temperatures that activate sperm caspases and endonucleases, it is difficult to modify levels of DNA fragmentation in sperm. Spermatozoa that come from the first portion of the ejaculate have lower levels of DNA fragmentation. On the other hand, repeated ejaculation or the use of spermatozoa originating in the testicle can achieve similar results depending on the type of patient. The effectiveness of these strategies must be evaluated by your medical professional in each case, which varies among patients.
Therefore, our kits maintain the philosophy of helping the medical professional enhance treatment, advising and providing quality and innovation. We help treat sperm DNA damage, which is a multifactorial process. Tobacco use, obesity, tight clothing, ingestion of certain drugs, fever, advanced age, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, are environmental factors that can produce an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation levels. Some natural factors like improper maturation or oxidative stress translate into failures during the production of spermatozoa in the testicle, which result in the same response.
Halotech solutions aim to improve the prospects of our patients at a reasonable cost, with an innovative technique applicable to any laboratory thanks to its simplicity. The results confirm our research: DNA fragmentation is important when it comes to selecting a couple’s assisted reproductive technology. It has been demonstrated that it is related to the probability of full-term pregnancy during IUI cycles. Levels above 30% reduce the likelihood of success from 19% to 1.5%. Knowing this data, we can select alternative techniques to IUI. In IVF treatments, fragmentation levels below 25% lead to a live birth rate of 33%. With fragmentation levels greater than 50%, this rate falls to 13%.
Niveles superiores al 30% disminuyen la probabilidad de éxito del 19% al 1,5%. Conociendo este dato podemos elegir técnicas alternativas al IUI. En tratamientos FIV, niveles de fragmentación inferiores al 25% conllevan una tasa de nacimientos vivos del 33%. Con niveles de fragmentación superiores al 50%, esta tasa cae hasta el 13%.
FRAGMENTATION
Our patent for the SCD technique leads Halotech to be known as the company with the halo. As a result of the research and development of this technique to measure DNA fragmentation, together with the oxidation and vitality tests, medical professionals have access to a simple, reproducible, and reliable technique to improve the outcomes of cycles.
Halosperm® SCD technology allows the measurement of sperm DNA fragmentation in a fast and easy way, without the need for complex equipment.
The evaluation of sperm DNA integrity, together with other sperm quality parameters, provides medical professionals with important information to select the most appropriate treatment for a couple that wishes to get pregnant.
The family of Halosperm® kits facilitates a clear look at the quality of spermatozoa DNA, as well as their longevity. These parameters are independent of the information obtained from a conventional semen analysis.
The evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation is highly recommended as a step prior to fertilisation of the egg, and can help avoid unnecessary costs as well as episodes of frustration for the couple.
The DNA of cells may be damaged through various mechanisms and/or processes. Therefore, its evaluation is of the utmost importance at the start of any fertilisation process. The success or failure of a pregnancy depends in large part on the integrity of the paternal genome.
The sperm chromatin dispersion technique (SCD; patented method) is based on a controlled DNA denaturation process to facilitate the subsequent removal of the proteins contained in each spermatozoon. In this way, normal spermatozoa create halos formed by loops of DNA at the head of the sperm, which are not present in those with damaged DNA.
The images of halos generated with Halosperm® are highly contrasted and can be evaluated precisely using conventional or fluorescent microscopy. The tails of the spermatozoa are preserved, so it is possible to discriminate them from other cell types that might be present in the ejaculate, such as leukocytes. In addition, Halosperm® allows the visualisation of spermatozoa that contain highly degraded DNA compared to other types of less aggressive damage. This fact is of great importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of varicocele.
Halosperm® starts with a denaturing treatment for the DNA molecule containing breaks in the genetic information. After this rapid step, a lysis solution will eliminate most of the nuclear proteins.
Spermatozoa with normal DNA generate large halos at the head of the spermatozoon; those with broken DNA do not present this halo, or it is very small.
Specialists in reproduction. We are renowned for our unique and innovative focus on research and development for our fertility diagnostics kits. Our priority is support and knowledge for medical professionals, and we share the same objective, attaining the pregnancy desired by our patients
Our tests are safe, fast, reproducible in the laboratory and do not require additional equipment. The data they offer are complementary to conventional semen analysis and feature the highest quality, translating into ISO 13485. Our research team has developed patented techniques (SCD, Sperm Chromatin Dispersion) to provide more information and increase cycle success in the most effective and fastest way possible.
Our goal is to improve and enhance treatment prognoses in the field of fertility, where in vitro solutions make a valuable contribution.
