How does pathology work?
Normally, we receive a specimen from a doctor or nurse practitioner. Most specimens come in a preservative fluid called formalin. Let’s say that the specimen in question is a skin biopsy. The specimen is examined and described grossly (size, color, etc.); then sections of it put into a special processor that prepares it for the next step–making slides for examination with the microscope. The diagnoses are made using these slides. The process usually takes about a day; most reports are completed the day after we receive the specimen. Sometimes, special tests are needed and these take a little longer. Where is the pathology report? The report on a specimen is sent to the doctor who sent us the specimen. You may ask your doctor for this report. Billing questions Why did I get a bill from Visalia Pathology? Visalia Pathology performs services for doctors. Most commonly, we analyze tissue specimens (biopsies and surgical specimens) to provide a diagnosis. These services are not part of the
