A method for storing memory test information includes the steps of storing a portion of information related to locations and numbers of failed memory cells detected while testing memory, and updating the stored information as failed memory cells are detected to indicate a first type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair a failed memory cell, a second complementary type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair the failed memory cell, or the memory is not repairable. The first type of memory spare corresponds to one of a row and a column portion of memory and the second complementary type of memory spare corresponds to the other of the row and column portions of memory.