Revolutionizing Pathology for Accessible, High-Quality Diagnostics:

Under sterile conditions, a doctor takes a biopsy - a sample of tissue from the area of disease, from the patient. The biopsy is then preserved in a chemical called formalin and sent to the lab.

This initial step is crucial in the pathology process as it ensures that the tissue sample remains intact and preserved for accurate analysis. The formalin fixation process stops cellular processes and prevents decomposition, maintaining the tissue's structural integrity for examination.

In the lab, through a multistep process that involves both manual and automated procedures, the preserved biopsy is converted into a glass slide.

This process typically involves embedding the tissue in paraffin wax, cutting extremely thin sections using a microtome, and mounting these sections on glass slides. The slides are then stained with specific dyes to highlight different cellular structures and abnormalities.

The glass slide is then availed to a pathologist, who examines it under the microscope to make a diagnosis and generate a pathology report. This report is shared with the patient's primary doctor to enable them to continue treatment, based on the results communicated in the pathologist's report.

The pathologist uses their expertise to identify cellular abnormalities, tissue architecture changes, and other diagnostic markers. This manual examination requires years of training and experience to accurately interpret the microscopic findings.

Under sterile conditions, a doctor takes a biopsy - a sample of tissue from the area of disease, from the patient. The biopsy is then preserved in a chemical called formalin and sent to the lab.

The initial steps in digital pathology are identical to traditional pathology. The same careful attention to sterile technique and proper preservation is required to ensure high-quality digital images can be created later in the process.

In the lab, through a multistep process that involves both manual and automated procedures, the preserved biopsy is converted into a glass slide. Subsequently, using a machine called a slide scanner, the glass slide is converted to a high resolution digital image, which is called a virtual or digital slide. This digital slide is uploaded onto a secure digital platform.

The slide scanner captures the entire glass slide at extremely high resolution, creating a digital image that can be zoomed and navigated just like using a physical microscope. These digital slides can be stored, shared, and accessed remotely while maintaining diagnostic quality.

The digital slide is examined by a pathologist on the digital platform. A diagnosis is then made and a pathology report generated on the platform. This report is securely shared with the patient's primary doctor to enable them to continue treatment, based on the results communicated in the pathologist's report.

Digital pathology allows for enhanced workflow efficiency, remote consultations, AI-assisted analysis, and better collaboration between healthcare professionals. The digital platform often includes tools for measurement, annotation, and sharing findings with colleagues for second opinions.