Scientists claim to have invented the world's first home sperm test kit which measures semen quality as well as quantity.

Men often turn to home testing kits because to spare the embarrassment of attending a fertility clinic.

Until now, home kits only tested sperm count but not sperm quality, meaning men could be falsely reassured about their fertility.

Now, IVF experts from Danish company Motility Count say they have have developed a simple and reliable kit that measures a man's sperm count - but also reveals whether he has good swimmers.

The world's first home sperm test kit - measuring semen quality as well as count - has been launched in the UK

The device tests sperm quality as it has two chambers, and only motile (good swimming) sperm can travel from one chamber to another. In the second chamber, dye is added to the sperm, which produces the colour in the result window. A stronger purple colour indicates more motile sperm

The product, called SwimCount, is now being manufactured by JRBiomedical Ltd, based in Llandudno Junction, North Wales, and can be bought online for £39.99.

To use the kit, men should take a sperm sample in the cup provided, without using a condom or lubricant as this might damage the sperm cells, and then leave it to rest for 30 mins.

Then, they should use a syringe to stir the sample 10 times, before taking 0.5ml and putting it into the SwimCount device.

Within 30 minutes, the kit changes colour, to indicate whether the number of motile (good swimming) sperm a man has is above or below the World Health Organisation's threshold for normal sperm.

This is defined as 5 million motile sperms per milliliter.

When compared to looking at sperm under a microscope, SwimCount is 96 per cent accurate, its manufacturers claim.

HOW DOES SWIMCOUNT WORK? Men using SwimCount put a semen sample into the device. It has two chambers and only motile sperm can move from one chamber into the other. Once the motile sperm are in the second chamber the sperm are stained with a dye which produces the colour in the result window. The more motile sperm in the sample, the stronger the purple colour will be. Advertisement

If the test shows a man's sperm quality is below the cut off level for normal sperm, he should consult their doctor for further fertility testing.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20 per cent of couples with fertility problems in the UK, according to NHS Choices.

It is also a contributory factor in a further 25 per cent of couples.

Dr John Rees, managing director at JRBiomedical, told the Daily Post: 'In November 2014 I became aware there was a Danish biotech working on a new type of male fertility home test that would be complete in 2015.

'It is rare to come across truly innovative products in this sector so I contacted them and visited their company in Copenhagen last year.'

After registering the product as a medical device, the company was appointed by the Danes to launch SwimCount in the UK, he added.

He said the product will initially be available through the company website but will be rolled out this year to pharmacies.

Dr Rees said: 'The key benefit of SwimCount compared to other tests is that it provides a measure of motile sperm (good swimmers) rather than just a sperm count which can overestimate a man’s fertility and provide a false sense of reassurance that all is OK.'

To use the kit, men should take a sperm sample in the cup provided, without using a condom or lubricant as this might damage the sperm cells, and then leave the sample for 30 mins

Then, they should wait 30 minutes, before stirring and collecting a 0.5ml sample of semen in the syringe

They should put the semen sample into the device's sample well, and push the slider forward to activate it.

After leaving the device for a further 30 minutes, it will change colour to indicate to indicate whether the number of motile (good swimming) sperm a man has is above or below the World Health Oranisations's threshold for normal sperm