Related Experiment Videos
Detecting semen antisperm antibodies in the clinical laboratory
P Devine1, B J Sedensky, H S Jordan
1Department of Pathology/Laboratory Medicine, Harvard Community Health Plan Inc, Boston, MA 02215.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|August 1, 1993
Summary
Testing for antisperm antibodies (ASAs) is crucial for male infertility evaluations. A significant percentage of men with infertility tested positive for ASAs, correlating with abnormal semen parameters.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Clinical Andrology
Background:
- Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) are linked to male infertility.
- Routine hospital laboratories often do not test for ASAs.
- Infertility evaluations can be improved by including ASA testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of ASAs in males undergoing infertility assessment.
- To correlate ASA presence with standard semen analysis and other fertility tests.
- To assess the utility of mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) and immunobead binding tests for ASA detection.
Main Methods:
- Semen samples from 520 males referred for infertility evaluation were tested.
- Mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) and immunobead binding tests were used for ASA detection (IgG, IgA, IgM).
- Results were correlated with semen analyses, postcoital tests, and sperm penetration assays.
Main Results:
- 16.9% of men tested positive for IgG, IgA, or IgM ASAs.
- MAR test detected more IgG-positive samples than the immunobead test (71 vs 42).
- Antibody-positive males showed higher rates of abnormal semen analyses (92% vs 74%) and immune-related fertility issues (94.2% vs 38.4%).
Conclusions:
- The presence of ASAs is significantly correlated with abnormal semen parameters in infertile males.
- ASA testing, using MAR or immunobead methods, should be integrated into routine infertility evaluations.
- These tests are reproducible and can be readily implemented in clinical laboratories.