Pathology Department and Lab - Selecting the diseased parts ::
In addition, while we look at representative sections of "ALL" of the tissue we are given, only a few thin slices are made into slides. If there is a disease process or infectious organism a fraction of a millimeter away from our slice, it may not be seen.
Fortunately, most diseases and tumors affect areas of tissue large enough that they are readily diagnosed.
Once the Pathologist has cut a representative section,
- it is processed in a machine and stained with red and blue stains.
- in this way, the transparent cells can be seen and their characteristics examined.
- if we suspect a bacteria or infection is present, we can stain the section with special stains.
New technology also allows us to use special antibodies to identify the kinds of cells present and can greatly help in the diagnosis.
An autopsy is a special test on the entire body after death to find out what disease or diseases were present that caused the patients death.
We hope the above explanations and descriptions are helpful to better understand the pathology process that is undertaken in our pathology lab.
