A CONVENIENT MIXED IMMUNOBEADS SCREEN FOR ANTISPERM ANTIBODIES DURINGROUTINE SEMEN ANALYSIS

Objective: To determine if leftover unused IgG, IgA, and IgM immunobea ds could be combined as a convenient screen for antisperm antibodies i n unwashed sperm. For comparisons, the mixed antiglobulin reaction (Sp ermMar) and immunobead test were performed. Design: Prospective compar ative study. Setting: Clinical and academic research environment. Subj ect(s): Donor human sperm negative for antisperm antibodies. Intervent ion(s): Sperm specimens (n = 9) were equally divided and sera with ant isperm antibodies added to one portion (positive control). Main Outcom e Measure(s): Assessment of antisperm antibodies in sperm. Result(s): The mixed immunobeads screen qualitative results were the same for bot h the SpermMar and immunobead tests. The mixed immunobeads screen (pos itive when greater than or equal to 10% motile sperm was bound) had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The percentages of bound sperm fo r the mixed immunobeads screen correlated with the SpermMar but not th e immunobead test. The mixed immunobeads screen intraassay and interas say coefficients of variation were 28.9% and 45.6%, respectively. Conc lusion(s): Matching results between the mixed immunobeads screen and t he SpermMar or immunobead test suggested that the screen could be used to detect antisperm antibodies in unwashed sperm. There was no advant age to washing the sperm, although the screen was flexible and applica ble for both unwashed and washed sperm. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998,70: 344 -9. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).