Pathology Testing: Role in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Healthcare Integration

Pathology testing examines tissues, fluids, and cells to identify disease processes at the molecular, cellular, and architectural levels.

Core Functions

• Diagnosis – Definitive classification (e.g., cancer type/grade).
• Prognostication – Biomarkers guide outcome prediction.
• Therapeutic targeting – Molecular profiles select precision therapies.
• Monitoring – Serial markers track response/resistance.

Modalities

• Histopathology (H&E, special stains)
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Flow cytometry
• Molecular/genomic (PCR, FISH, NGS)
• Cytology (Pap, FNA)
• Clinical pathology (hematology, chemistry, microbiology, transfusion)

System Role

Pathology bridges clinical specialties, providing the "ground truth" for patient management. It is foundational to evidence‑based medicine.