Indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) as a screening procedure for antisperm antibodies. II. Clinical studies

In this study the question was raised whether the indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) using donor spermatozoa could substitute the direct MAR requiring motile spermatozoa in the patient's ejaculate in the screening for antisperm antibodies. Serum and seminal plasma from 48 men selected on the basis of the results in the direct MAR were tested by the indirect MAR. Both tests were carried out for IgG and IgA antisperm antibodies. A statistically significant correlation was found both between the sperm-bound IgG and the free IgG antisperm antibodies in serum as well as in seminal plasma and between sperm-bound IgA and the free IgA antisperm antibodies in seminal plasma whereas no correlation was found between the sperm-bound IgA and the free IgA antisperm antibodies in serum. This finding strongly supports the concept that the major part of the IgA antisperm antibodies in the ejaculate are locally produced.