A convenient mixed immunobeads screen for antisperm antibodies during routine semen analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive immunology
• Clinical diagnostics

Background:

• Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) can impair fertility.
• Accurate detection of ASAs is crucial for reproductive health assessments.
• Current methods for ASA detection can be time-consuming or require specific sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel, combined immunobeads screen for detecting antisperm antibodies in unwashed sperm.
• To assess the convenience and efficacy of using leftover IgG, IgA, and IgM immunobeads.
• To compare the performance of the combined immunobeads screen against established methods like the SpermMar and standard immunobead test.

Main Methods:

• A prospective comparative study design was employed.
• Donor human sperm, initially negative for ASAs, were used.
• Sperm specimens were divided, with one portion spiked with antisera containing ASAs to serve as a positive control.

Main Results:

• The combined immunobeads screen achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting ASAs.
• Qualitative results from the combined immunobeads screen consistently matched those of both the SpermMar and standard immunobead tests.
• Percentages of bound sperm in the combined screen correlated with the SpermMar test results.

Conclusions:

• The combined immunobeads screen is a viable and convenient method for detecting antisperm antibodies in unwashed sperm.
• This screening approach showed no benefit in washing sperm prior to testing, offering flexibility.
• The screen is adaptable for both unwashed and washed sperm samples, enhancing its utility.