The occurrence of sperm antibodies in human reproduction. I. Comparative new and improved test methods for sperm antibody detection.
The four essential methods for sperm antibody detection are considered and evaluated. The micro-sperm-agglutination and micro-sperm-immobilization tests have been improved and optimized. Quantitative estimation of sperm antibodies was made by an immunoelectrophoresis technique after separation of antibodies from the sera and genital tract secretions by affinity chromatography. Antibodies were typed by line-rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The pathologic errors of the modified tests were found to be small and the biologic errors were tolerable. Satisfactory results were achieved for sperm antibodies belonging to IgA and IgM, but not for other immunoglobulins.