Cytology Slide Preparation: The Technique Decisions That Decide Whether Your Sample Is Diagnostic
Cytology's speed advantage disappears the moment a heavy-handed smear or a stray formalin fume turns the sample into "quality precludes interpretation." Here's what actually separates a diagnostic slide from a wasted one — from needle gauge to shipping.
Formalin Fixation: Getting It Right Before the Tissue Reaches the Laboratory
Fixation quality is the one pre-analytical variable entirely within a clinician's control — and it's the single biggest driver of report quality. The 10:1 ratio, correct sectioning, and the species-specific exceptions that separate diagnostic tissue from artifact.
Tired of Hedging in Your Pathology Reports? Here's What to Do About It
If your pathology reports frequently say 'consistent with' or 'cannot exclude,' the tissue isn't the problem. The context is. Here's what to include to get a more definitive answer.
Special Stains vs. Immunohistochemistry: What They Are and When Your Pathologist Uses Each
When your pathology report recommends additional testing, it's either chemistry or antibodies — and the choice between them tells you a lot about what question the case is raising.
Necropsy Submissions: How to Maximize Diagnostic Yield
A step-by-step guide for veterinarians performing necropsies: how to handle carcasses, select and fix tissue, collect ancillary samples, and document findings so the histopathology report is as complete as possible
Why Skin Punch Biopsies Come Back “Non-Diagnostic” — And How to Improve Your Diagnostic Yield
Inflammatory and early neoplastic processes can be patchy.
Submitting a single punch biopsy for generalized dermatologic disease significantly reduces diagnostic confidence.