Large format histology brings a few practical labeling issues that do not come up as often in routine tissue processing. When a lab works with larger specimens such as prostate or brain tissue, the goal is not only to keep more tissue together on one section. The information tied to that specimen also has to stay clear as it moves from cassette to slide. In a normal histology workflow, cassette printing and slide printing usually happen at different stages, and often on diffe

At NSH 2026, one thing that stood out was how many different slide and cassette printing systems are now available to pathology laboratories. Different manufacturers offer different approaches to labeling, automation, printing technology, footprint, integration, and cost. That variety is a good thing because it gives laboratories more freedom to choose equipment based on their own workflow and priorities. Some laboratories may care most about LIS integration and automation, w

When people think of a pathology slide printer, they usually picture a machine that prints patient identifiers, barcodes, and specimen information onto microscope slides. Creativity is probably the last thing that comes to mind. So during a routine product test, we decided to try something different. Art Work Printing Instead of printing another barcode, we connected our G306U slide printer to the laboratory Wi-Fi network and printed several detailed illustrations directly on

A barcode can look perfectly clear to the human eye and still fail when it reaches a scanner. This is especially common in pathology, where small barcodes are printed onto limited slide or cassette labeling areas and then expected to remain readable throughout processing and storage. When scanning becomes inconsistent, the first assumption is often that the printer did not produce a dark enough mark in human vision. In practice, darkness is only one part of barcode readabilit

Large tissue specimens create a different identification challenge from routine histology samples. A standard cassette usually contains a relatively small tissue fragment, while large format histology is used when laboratories want to preserve a broader view of the original anatomy in a single section. The purpose is not simply to place more tissue on one slide. In some cases, dividing a specimen into many smaller blocks can make important spatial relationships harder to see.

Colored microscope slides do not always respond to laser printing in the same way. Even when the slides are the same size, come from the same manufacturer, and are printed on the same UV laser printer, different colors can produce noticeably different results. Orange slides are a particularly clear example. Under the same settings that produce sharp and readable marks on white, blue, green, or purple slides, orange slides may appear lighter, softer, or more blurred. This is n

When a cassette printer produces a mark that looks lighter or less clear than expected, it is easy to assume that the printer is the problem. In practice, that is not always the case. Before changing printer settings or questioning the laser performance, it is often worth testing several cassette brands or batches first. Two cassettes that look almost identical can react very differently to the same laser because the final marking result depends not only on the printer, but a

When pathology laboratories evaluate a slide or cassette printer, printing speed is often one of the first specifications they notice. Three seconds per slide. Five seconds per cassette. Hundreds of slides per hour. These numbers make different systems easy to compare. However, once a printer is placed inside an actual histology laboratory, the machine with the fastest printing specification does not necessarily feel like the fastest printer to use. The reason is simple: prin

When discussing innovation in pathology laboratories, the conversation often revolves around automation, artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity, and increasingly intelligent equipment. It is natural to assume that adding more features will always result in a better product. As manufacturers, we sometimes think the same way. However, after speaking with laboratories, distributors, and industry partners over the past few weeks, we were reminded that innovation is not alway

At ADLM 2026, one conversation challenged an assumption we had always made about laboratory equipment. Like many manufacturers, we have often viewed greater connectivity, more onboard functions, and smarter software as natural directions for product development. As laboratories continue moving toward digital pathology and automation, it seems reasonable to assume that more intelligent devices are always the better solution. Discussion with distributors However, several discus

When people compare ultraviolet laser and infrared laser systems in pathology labeling, the discussion is usually focused on print quality and speed. In practice, however, one difference becomes increasingly noticeable after long-term use: contamination generated during the marking process itself. At first glance, both technologies may appear very similar. Both are non-contact marking systems, and capable of producing highly readable barcodes and text on pathology slides or c

This topic may seem small, but it reflects a practical question many pathology laboratories and distributors are thinking about today. After WHX Miami 2026, one thing became clear to us: many labs are not only looking for advanced technology. They are also looking for equipment that can fit into real laboratory workflows. WHX Miami 2026 During the exhibition, we noticed that many visitors first became interested because of the compact size and clean appearance of our patholog

This topic may seem straightforward, but it reflects a practical challenge many pathology laboratories face every day. Batch printing is useful because it allows laboratories to label multiple slides or cassettes in a more organized and consistent way. For labs handling a growing number of specimens, this can reduce repetitive manual work and support better traceability. However, batch printing also raises a very real question: where does the printer go？ Pathology labs are no

By looking or at pathology laboratories today, one change that has quietly taken place over the past several years is the growing number of compact printers appearing directly beside microtomes. Traditionally, printers were often placed at centralized stations where slides or cassettes would be labeled before moving to the next stage of processing. This approach worked well when laboratories had ample space and workflows were organized around larger shared equipment. However

AI in Pathology Is Only as Good as the Data It Can Trust

In an era where pathology laboratories are increasingly adopting barcode tracking, digital workflows, and laboratory automation, one common practice still remains in many labs: handwritten slide labeling. Even today, it is not unusual to see histotechnologists writing directly on slides beside the microtome, especially during lower-volume workflows or busy daily operations. Under the trend of digitization and informatization, this may appear outdated. With so many automated s

In laser-based pathology labeling systems, discussions about printer longevity are usually focused on major components such as the laser source itself. In practice, however, one small feature often plays a surprisingly important role in protecting the entire laser system over long periods of operation: sleep mode. At first glance, sleep mode may appear to be nothing more than a convenience or energy-saving feature. Some users even find it slightly inconvenient when the printe

In many pathology laboratories, label quality is often judged quickly by technicians, usually by how the marking looks immediately after printing. Among different labeling methods, thermal transfer printing almost always leaves a stronger first impression because the text appears darker and more visually solid than other approaches. Compared to the slightly lighter or grey tone seen in laser marking, thermal transfer output naturally gives a stronger sense of contrast and cla

As labeling technologies continue to evolve in pathology laboratories, thermal transfer printing and laser marking remain the two most commonly used approaches. Compared to thermal transfer, which relies on ribbons, laser marking offers an alternative by modifying the material itself. However, laser marking is not a single, uniform technology. Among the most common approaches, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) lasers differ in how they interact with materials and perform ove

In many pathology laboratories, thermal transfer printing has long been the standard for sample labeling. It is familiar, widely implemented, and capable of producing clear and readable results under normal conditions. At the moment a label is printed, there is often little visible difference between thermal transfer and laser marking. Although thermal transfer often appears darker and more defined at the beginning, without the slightly grey tone sometimes seen in laser marki