SpermMar Test IgA

Test for the detection of anti-sperm antibodies

As sperm does not come into contact with the blood circulation, the male reproductive system contains no antisperm antibodies in normal conditions. However, when the blood-testis barrier is breached, the immune system can detect mature sperm as antigenic and form antisperm antibodies that cause sub- or infertility. Antisperm antibodies belong to two immunological classes: immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibodies. Antisperm IgA antibodies are clinically associated with immunological infertility, and screening can therefore provide help in assessing the male fertility.

The SpermMar Test IgA is a semi-quantitative, non-automated, diagnostic kit for detecting antisperm antibodies of the IgA class on spermatozoa in human semen. It is a rapid, easy-to-use microscopic test.
The SpermMar Test IgA can be performed on fresh, untreated human semen provided that it contains motile spermatozoa. The SpermMar Test IgA can be used as an aid in the diagnosis and management of male infertility.

SpermMar Test IgA has a 12 month shelf life from production date. Information about the composition of the product can be found in the material safety data sheet.

Regulatory information

Europe: CE-marked (IVDR, Notified Body number 2797)
USA: registered – Canada: Health Canada licence
Brazil: registered – Australia: registered
Other regions: information available upon request

Product order codes

SPMA_S : SpermMar Test IgA – Single kit – 50 tests
SPMA_C : SpermMar Test IgA – Complete kit – 50 tests

Product literature

Abdollahi, E., Tavasolian F., Esmaili M.A., et al. , Association of ABO Blood Group System and Anti-Sperm Antibody with Male Infertility, International Journal of Medical Laboratory (2014),Vol.1,No.1,pp.54-60

Al-Dujaily S.S., Chakir W.K., Hantoosh S.F., Direct Antisperm Antibody Examination of Infertile Men, Global Journal of Medical Research (2012),Vol.12,No.3

Ali N.H., Celiac Disease Occurence with Autoimmune Infertility in Infertile Men, Fam Med Med Sci Res (2016),Vol.5,No.4

Depuydt C.E., Bosmans E., Zalata A., et al., The Relation Between Reactive Oxygen Species and Cytokines in Andrological Patients With or Without Male Accesory Gland Infection, Journal of Andrology (1996),Vol.17,No.6,pp.699-707

Depuydt C.E., De Potter C.R., Zalata A., et al., Levels of Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF) in Seminal Plasma of Patients With Andrological Diseases, Journal of Andrology (1998),Vol.19,No.2,pp.175-182

Garolla A., Pizzol D., Bertoldo A., et al., Association, prevalence, and clearance of human papillomavirus and antisperm antibodies in infected semen samples from infertile patients, Fertility and Sterility (2013),Vol.99,No.1,pp.125-131

Hadinedoushan H., Ghafourzadeh M., A survey of anti-sperm antibodies in infertile couples, Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine (2007),Vol.5,No.1,pp.39-40

Hussein T.M., Elneily D., Eid A.A., Abou-ElKhier H., Assessment of antisperm antibodies in a sample of Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus infection, Andrologia (2017),Vol.49,No.e12664

Laudat A., Burc-Struxiano L., Is Absence of Spontaneous Agglutinates of Spermatozoa in Semen a Reliable Indicator of Non-Autosensization against Human Sperm Antigens?, Open Access Library Journal (2016),Vol.3,No.e2978

Marconi M., Nowotny A., Pantke P., et al., Antisperm antibodies detected by mixed agglutination reaction and immunobead test are not associated with chronic inflammation and infection of the seminal tract, Andrologia (2008),Vol.40,pp.227-234

Marconi M., Pilatz A., Wagenlehner F., et al., Are Antisperm Antibodies Really Associated with Proven Chronic Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of the Male Reproductive Tract?, European Urology (2009),Vol.56,pp.708-715

Ombelet W., Vandeput H., Janssen M., et al., Treatment of male infertility due to sperm surface antibodies: IUI or IVF?, Human Reproduction (1997),Vol.12,No.6,pp.1165-1170

Poppe K., Glinoer D., Tournaye H., et al., Is systematic screening for thyroid disorders indicated in subfertile men?, European Journal of Endocrinology (2006),Vol.154,pp.363-366

Tennakoon V., Weerasekera DS., Yasawardene SG., Successful pregnancy outcomes following in-vitro fertilization in infertile couples with high levels of antisperm antibodies, Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2010),Vol.32,pp.47-48

Tennakoon V., Yasawardene S.G., Weerasekera D.S., Possible risk factors for the formation of antisperm antibodies in a subfertile population, Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2011),Vol.33,pp.12-19

Background information

Comhaire F., Vermeulen L., Human semen analysis, Human Reproduction Update (1995),Vol.1,No.4,pp.343-362

Comhaire F.H., Mahmoud A.M.A., Depuydt C.E., et al., Mechanisms and effect of male genital tract infection on sperm quality and fertilizing potential: the andrologist’s viewpoint, Human Reproduction Update (1999),Vol.5,No.5,pp.393-398

Djaladat H., Mehrsai A., Rezazade M., et al., Varicocele and Antisperm Antibody: Fact or Fiction?, Southern Medical Journal (2006),Vol.99,No.1,pp.44-48

Francavilla F., Santucci R., Barbonetti A., Francavilla S., Naturally-occuring antisperm antibodies in men: interference with fertility and clinical implications. An update., Fronties in Bioscience (2007),Vol.12,No.May,pp.2890-2911

Hinting A., Vermeulen L., Comhaire F., The indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction test using a commercially available kit for the detection of antisperm antibodies in serum, Fertility and Sterility (1988),Vol.49,No.6,pp.1039-1044

Hossain A., Islam N., Schultz N., et al., Evidence of a Relationship Between Age of the Infertile Patient and the Prevalence of Antisperm Antibody (ASA)., Fertility and Sterility (2008),Vol.84,No.S1,pp.S457

Kamieniczna M., Domagała A., Kurpisz M., The frequency of antisperm antibodies in infertle couples – a Polish pilot study, Medical Science Monitor (2003),Vol.9,No.4,pp.194-201

Kendirci M., Hellstrom W.J.G., Antisperm Antibodies and Varicocele., Southern Medical Journal (2006),Vol.99,No.1,pp.13-15

Lähteenmäki A., In-vitro fertilization in the presence of antisperm antibodies detected by the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) an the tray agglutination test (TAT), Human Reproduction (1993),Vol.8,No.1,pp.84-88

Lombardo F., Gandini L., Dondero F., Lenzi A., Immunology and immunopathology of the male genital tract. Antisperm immunity in natural and assisted reproduction, Human Reproduction Update (2001),Vol.7,No.5,pp.450-456

Lwaleed B., Greenfield R.S., Birch B.R., Cooper A.J., Does human semen contain a functional haemostatic system? A possible role for Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor in fertility through semen liquefaction, Thromb Haemost (2005),Vol.93,No.5,pp.847-852

Mahmoud A., Comhaire F., DEBATE Antisperm antibodies: Use of the mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) test using latex beads, Human Reproduction (2000),Vol.15,No.2,pp.231-233

Räsänen M., Saarikoski S., Penttilä I., Agrawel Y.P, A flow cytometric study on the effect of low dose cyclic prednisole treatment on sperm-bound antibody levels, Human Reproduction (1994),Vol.9,No.5,pp.889-893

Räsänen M.L., Havatta O.L., Penttila I.M., Agrawal Y.P., Detection and quantitation of sperm-bound antibodies by flow cytometry of human semen , Journal of Andrology (1992),Vol.13,No.1,pp.55-64

Rajah S.V., Parslow J.M., Howell R.J.S., Hendry W.F., Comparison of mixed antiglobulin reaction and direct immunobead test for detection of sperm-bound antibodies in subfertile males, Fertility and Sterility (1992),Vol.57,No.6,pp.1300-1303

Verheyen G., Tournaye H., Laurier K., et al., Auto-controlled study on in-vitro fertilization performance with ‘antibody-free’ spermatozoa selected by immunobead adsorption from semen of patients with anti-sperm antibodies, Human Reproduction (1994),Vol.9,No.6,pp.1119-1126

Frequently Asked Questions Certificate Of Analysis

When more than 40% of motile spermatozoa present ASA of the IgG class, complementary testing for IgA antibodies is advisable