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Immunobead Antisperm Antibody Test (ASAB)
Direct ASAB Test
The husband's sperm is tested for
the presence of antisperm antibodies in the Direct ASAB Test.
The husband should avoid ejaculation for a period of two to five days
before his scheduled test. He will be admitted into a private room in
the clinic where he should collect a semen specimen by masturbation into
a sterile container. Alternatively, he may pick up the sterile
container from our office and collect the specimen at home. He must
bring it to the lab within one hour of collection. He will also fill
out a short information form for the lab.
Indirect ASAB Test
Blood is drawn from the husband and/or
wife and the serum is isolated from the blood. The serum is
tested indirectly for the presence of antibodies to sperm by incubating
it with donor sperm in the Indirect ASAB Test. If antisperm
antibodies are present in the serum, they will attach to the donor sperm
and cause a positive test result.
Explanation of the
Antisperm Antibody Test
Your doctor may request the Immunobead
Antisperm Antibody Test for a variety of reasons. These include a Semen
Analysis which shows sperm agglutination (sticking together), a
Post-Coital Test (PCT) which is abnormal, or unexplained infertility.
This test is also a prerequisite for all IVF patients.
Results: Immunobeads are small
beads that are treated with special proteins. If antibodies to sperm
are present, these beads will attach to the sperm. One hundred motile
(swimming) sperm are evaluated for bead attachment.
For the male, if twenty or more
of these sperm have beads attached to them (a result of 20% or greater),
this is considered a positive test and indicates that antisperm
antibodies may be present. For the female, a result greater than
10% is considered a positive test.
How does a positive ASAB test affect IVF sperm
and egg preparation and fertilization? If the husband tests
positive for ASAB, his semen specimen for IVF will be collected into a
specimen cup containing a buffer solution that will minimize the effect
of ASAB on the sperm. Normal IVF fertilization rates (fertilization of
50% or more of the mature eggs) are usually achieved with this
treatment. When the female partner or both partners have tested
positive for ASAB, or if the husband also has a compromised semen
specimen (low count, low motility or low SPA), fertilization rates may
be lower and your physician may suggest ICSI.
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