Simple, Rapid Staining Method for Immediate Intraoperative Examination of Testicular Biopsies

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Before patients with obstructive azoospermia undergo surgical reconstruction, testicular biopsy is required to establish that spermatogenesis is normal. To perform the corrective surgical procedure at the same time as the testicular biopsy, a touch imprint method of processing the biopsy specimen has replaced frozen section processing, which distorts the germinal cells. We report a rapid, simple method of staining a touch imprint specimen in the operating room. It requires less than 5 minutes and can be performed by the andrology laboratory technologist, operating room staff, or the surgeon, thereby avoiding the need to transport the biopsy specimen to the pathology laboratory.