Lab Services for Vasectomy Reversals

Our diagnostic and therapeutic andrology laboratory is one of the few CLIA certified semen testing facilities in the country that is directed by a fellowship-trained clinical and laboratory specialist in Male Infertility. The laboratory can be used a reference lab only, or as a part of the comprehensive evaluation and treatment process. Since Dr. Buch reviews and provides clinical interpretations of each test, referring physicians receive a more comprehensive report than from most hospital or other reference laboratories.

SEMEN ANALYSIS (SA)

Semen analysis involves obtaining a semen specimen with at least two days of abstinence. The semen sample is analyzed with reference to volume, sperm density, progressive motility of rapidly moving sperm, and sperm morphology "physical appearance". While authorities consider a total of three semen analyses preferable for establishing each individual's "range" of semen quality, a single abnormal SA is usually sufficient for referral of the male partner for further clinical evaluation.
We routinely perform a "strict" morphology assessment on all semen specimens. We are one of the few laboratories in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to do so. The "strict" morphology is more predictive of treatment outcomes than standard morphology scores.

SPERM ANTIBODY TEST (SAT)

Sperm antibody assessment is performed on sperm directly, or indirectly on male or female serum. The immunobead test is used since this test has become the "gold standard." Sperm antibody assessment is important in cases of low motility and poor post-coital testing.

SPERM PENETRATION ASSAY (SPA)

Our SPA (hamster egg penetration test) is an "optimized" version of the original test. We have minimized our percent of false-negative results (i.e. abnormal score on test, but couple still gets pregnant on their own) by maximizing our sperm capacitation protocol and by strict quality controls. This test provides information that is additive to the strict morphology data from our semen analysis. We have reported at national medical meetings that the strict morphology score is only roughly predictive of the optimized SPA score. Both tests can be critical to properly advising couples on whether to pursue different treatment options such as when to correct varicoceles and when to move on quickly to IVF with or without ICSI.

SPERM PROCESSING FOR IUI

This can be the most important part of an insemination cycle once ovulation has been documented and the appropriate timing has been determined. The highest success rates from IUI have been achieved from cycles in which at least 10 million moving sperm are available for insemination, and in which the % of sperm with normal morphology scores have been enhanced by the processing technique. We use a sophisticated density gradient centrifugation technique.

SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION

We were one of the first laboratories to test the feasibility of freezing and thawing sperm from the epididymis in cases of congenital absence of the vas deferens and in cases of re-do vasectomy reversals. Now, we routinely offer semen cryopreservation for

We do not currently operate a sperm donor bank. Sperm frozen at our facility can be transported anywhere. We perform a quality control test thaw in which post-thaw motility is recorded from a small portion of the original sample in order to predict the post-thaw motile yield. We have found this to be very important to therapeutic planning.

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