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 Under the trend of digitization and informatization, this may appear outdated.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

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

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

In pathology laboratories, much of the discussion around reliability tends to focus on major systems — analyzers, staining platforms, or the expertise of trained professionals. No doubt, these factors are always closely associated with the final outcome. Yet, long before any diagnostic conclusion is made, there is a quieter process that underpins everything that follows: the way a sample is identified and tracked through the workflow. Unlike analytical performance, identific

Every April, laboratories across the United States take part in Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, sharing team photos, decorating workspaces, and recognizing the professionals who keep diagnostic systems running every day. For many, it’s a rare moment of visibility in a field that largely operates behind the scenes. But beyond the celebration, Pathology Lab Week highlights something more fundamental about modern healthcare: reliability is not just the result of expertise