Objective: To compare the sperm mixed-agglutination reaction (sMAR) with the peroxidase-labelled protein A method (POPA) in infertile patients with varicocele.
Patients, subjects and methods: The study comprised 30 men with a history of varicocele-associated infertility and 30 fertile men (control group). Antisperm antibodies against spermatozoa in the semen and against progenitor spermatozoa in testicular tissue were detected using the two methods.
Results: The tests were positive in 15 (50%) of patients with both the sMAR and the POPA methods, while no autoantibodies were detected in the control group. There were no significant differences between the methods. The sensitivity and specificity of both tests was approximately 93%, with no significant difference between them (P>0. 05).
Conclusion: Both methods may be used for detecting sperm autoantibodies in infertile patients with varicocele.