A pathology test involves examining samples from your body, such as tissues, cells, or fluids, to understand your health. These tests serve as a diagnostic tool, helping healthcare providers identify diseases, monitor existing conditions, and guide treatment decisions. Pathology tests are a fundamental part of modern medicine.
What Pathologists Do
Pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing diseases. They analyze various samples, including tissues, cells, blood, and other body fluids, using laboratory tests and techniques. Their expertise provides essential insights to other healthcare professionals, helping treating physicians make accurate diagnoses and formulate effective treatment plans. Pathologists also contribute to monitoring ongoing conditions.
Common Types of Pathology Tests
Common pathology tests assess health and diagnose conditions. Blood tests include Complete Blood Counts (CBCs) for blood cell levels, and comprehensive metabolic panels (CMPs) that assess kidney and liver function, blood glucose, and electrolytes. Lipid panels measure cholesterol and triglyceride levels for heart health.
Urine tests detect issues like kidney dysfunction, infections, or diabetes. Tissue biopsies involve taking small samples of tissue, which pathologists then examine for abnormal cells or other changes, often to diagnose cancer. Swabs are used for microbial identification, and molecular tests analyze DNA or RNA to detect genetic abnormalities or specific cancer types.
The Journey of a Sample
A sample’s journey begins with its collection from the patient, whether it is blood, urine, or a tissue biopsy. Each sample is labeled with a unique patient identifier and accompanied by a request form containing relevant clinical information. Samples are then transported to the pathology laboratory under controlled conditions, sometimes requiring specific temperatures or immediate processing.
Upon arrival at the lab, samples undergo accessioning, where they are assigned a unique lab number and entered into a laboratory information system. For tissue samples, a gross examination notes size, color, and consistency. The tissue is then processed, involving fixation in a solution like formalin to preserve its structure, followed by dehydration and embedding in paraffin wax to create a solid block. Thin slices are cut from this block using a microtome, placed on glass slides, and stained with dyes to highlight cellular features for microscopic examination.
Interpreting Your Results
After the pathologist analyzes the sample, a pathology report is generated. This report contains patient identifiers, findings from the examination, and the final diagnosis. The report is then communicated to the treating physician.
The treating physician is primarily responsible for interpreting these results. They integrate the pathology findings with the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and other diagnostic tests to form a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s condition. The physician then discusses the results with the patient, explaining their implications and outlining the next steps for care.