Tests for sperm antibodies

Abstract

Several methods have been used to identify the presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA). The clinical significance of the results derived from ASA testing methods is widely debated. The conflicting data reported by various investigators may be due to confounding factors that include the use of different ASA testing modalities, specimen preparation, and test interpretation standards. Furthermore, sperm specimens are dynamic, undergoing maturational changes including capacitation and the acrosome reaction, which results in changing ASA epitopes as the outer acrosomal membrane and its associated proteins are lost and the antigens present on the inner acrosomal membrane become exposed. Currently, there is a consensus that results of testing for ASA in seminal fluid using the mixed antiglobulin reaction and immunobead tests can be significantly associated with unexplained infertility. On the other hand, testing of seminal plasma or serum was found to be less relevant for fertility assessments.