Comparison of the SpermMar test with currently accepted procedures for detecting human sperm antibodies

Abstract

To eliminate the possibility of immunological infertility in spontaneously infertile and re-anastomosed men, a screening test that can be applied directly to semen is desirable. The SpermMar test is one such possibility. In this study, indirect tests for sperm antibodies using the commercial SpermMar test have been applied to a panel of sera whose reactions in the tube slide agglutination test (TSAT), gelatin agglutination test (GAT) and sperm immobilization test (SIT) for sperm antibodies are well characterized. The results from the SpermMar tests are compared directly with those obtained from Immunobead tests carried out at the same time. Results from screening tests performed on 30 sera confirmed complete correspondence between the GAT, SpermMar and Immunobead tests. When sera were titrated, the Immunobead test proved slightly more sensitive than the GAT and the SpermMar test was slightly more sensitive than the Immunobead test. The SpermMar test proved easier to use and to assess than the Immunobead test and it is recommended for consideration as a screening procedure for sperm antibodies despite the fact that at this stage only IgG antibodies can be detected.