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Summary
The direct mixed erythrocyte-spermatozoa antiglobulin reaction (MAR) has been evaluated as a test for sperm auto-antibodies in 775 semen specimens from 557 patients: the test was applicable to 664 samples (86 per cent) from 463 patients (83 per cent). Antisperm antibodies were also looked for in serum samples from 213 patients. A positive MAR test was obtained in 29 (85 per cent) of 34 patients with anti-sperm antibodies in serum, including 27 positive results (93 per cent) in 29 patients with antisperm antibody titres of more than 1 in 32. A negative MAR test was found in 174 (97 per cent) of 179 patients without antisperm antibodies in serum.
This simple test is a valuable addition to seminal analysis as a screening test for the presence of antisperm antibodies. Subsequent estimation of serum and seminal plasma titres appears to be necessary to assess fully the likely effects of the antisperm antibodies on the patient's fertility.