Wet Prep (Sperm)

A wet prep is a rapid, informal sperm assessment performed by placing a drop of semen on a glass slide and examining it under a microscope without any staining or specialized analysis. It allows the embryologist or andrologist to confirm the presence and gross motility of sperm.

Wet preps are routinely performed in the IVF lab at egg retrieval to verify the semen sample is usable before proceeding with fertilization. They are also used during TESE to identify sperm-containing tissue in real time.

A formal semen analysis performed in a certified andrology laboratory provides far more accurate and standardized data and is required for diagnostic purposes.