Groundbreaking new diagnostic test addresses newly identified male infertility factors

Charlottesville, VA — February 5, 2025 — As fertility challenges affect couples worldwide, a growing body of research underscores the need for more advanced and comprehensive male fertility diagnostics. Enter PS Detect, a groundbreaking diagnostic test from PS Fertility designed to address gaps in traditional male fertility testing and empower couples on their fertility journey. PS Detect will be available to patients and physicians for the first time commercially later this month.

Male infertility contributes to 50% of infertility cases, yet testing often stops at a basic semen analysis. Studies show that 20-30% of men with normal semen analysis results are still unable to conceive, revealing the limitations of standard protocols that measure sperm count, motility, and morphology.

What’s missing? The ability to assess the sperm’s fertilization competency—a critical factor for conception.

A groundbreaking 2019 article published in Nature found that phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential biomarker that must be present on the surface of sperm in order for fertilization to occur. PS Fertility has developed PS Detect, a convenient, discreet diagnostic test with a sample that can be collected at home. By identifying the presence of PS in sperm samples to generate a PS Score, healthcare providers can go beyond basic semen analysis, get insight into sperm competency, and identify whether patients could benefit from varicocele repair.

Using PS Detect is easy: 

"Male infertility has long been underdiagnosed and undertreated," Dr. Ryan Smith, Associate Professor of Urology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, explains. “By focusing on advanced diagnostics like PS Detect, we’re paving the way for more informed treatments and better outcomes for couples facing infertility."

One factor that can lead to a low PS Score and thus impact male fertility is a varicocele, a condition which often presents without symptoms, where the veins in the scrotum are swollen and enlarged.

“While varicoceles are common, they can cause infertility and are the most frequently identifiable cause of male infertility,” says Dr. Smith.

Up to 41% of males with infertility have a varicocele, but varicoceles often go undiagnosed in fertility patients. Most fertility patients are not even aware that having a varicocele can impact fertility. Varicocele repair is a surgical procedure for this condition, but it is often underutilized due to the lack of diagnostic testing to identify patients who could benefit. Data from PS Fertility has shown that varicocele repair significantly improves PS Scores to pregnancy-proven levels for nearly all patients.

PS Fertility is a leading innovator in fertility diagnostics, dedicated to advancing male fertility testing and awareness. By providing physicians and patients with state-of-the-art tools, PS Fertility strives to create a more complete understanding of fertility and improve outcomes for couples worldwide.

With the end goal of better diagnostic tools and fertility outcomes, PS Fertility is dedicated to equipping and empowering more couples with fertility answers. For more information about PS Detect or to access research and resources, visit www.psfertility.com.

TwoTone Creative
Emily Field
emily@twotonecreative.com
515.864.6657