Sperm penetration assay in predicting successful in vitro fertilization. A meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the performance of the sperm penetration assay (SPA) is useful in predicting successful in vitro fertilization (IVF).


METHODS
A meta-analysis was set up to determine the performance of SPA in the prediction of IVF success. We collected data on 647 patients in 24 studies. For each study, a two-by-two table was constructed from the results of SPA and IVF.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of SPA as compared to IVF were heterogeneous. A summary receiver operating characteristics curve could be estimated, showing that the sensitivity of SPA was only 37%, with a specificity of 95%. Subgroup analysis did not explain the lack of homogeneity.


CONCLUSIONS
Since withholding IVF inappropriately has major consequences, performing SPA is insufficient for selecting patients for treatment with IVF-embryo transfer.
Mol
B W
BW
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.w.mol@amc.uva.nl
Meijer
S
S
Yuppa
S
S
Tan
E
E
de Vries
J
J
Bossuyt
P M
PM
van der Veen
F
F
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions