title: Autoantibody screening for infertility: explaining the unexplained?
abstract: Several laboratories currently offer panels of serum autoantibody assays to screen women with unexplained infertility and those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Offering these tests implies that they have predictive value for the outcome of proposed infertility treatments such that the results of the testing would alter clinical management. Because screening for antiphospholipid antibodies adds expense to already costly procedures, it is an appropriate time to review the justification for the use of these panels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hatasaka
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kutteh
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000276:immunology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000191:economics*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010743:Phospholipids