World time

Laboratory Testing Online / Histopathology & Cytology

Surgical Biopsy Histology

To examine tissue architecture and cell features when a lesion, inflammation or organ disorder needs diagnosis.
Test profileHISurgical Biopsy Histology

Test and specimen

What is being examined?

Test
Surgical Biopsy Histology
Department
Histopathology & Cytology
Typical sample or measurement
Fresh or formalin-fixed tissue as specified
Before the test

The clinical team manages consent and procedure preparation. Tissue must reach the laboratory with correct identification, clinical details and fixation.

Clinical interpretation

Laboratory results should be interpreted by a qualified professional using the correct reference interval, method, symptoms, history and other findings. A normal or abnormal value rarely confirms or excludes a condition by itself.

01

Why the test is performed

To examine tissue architecture and cell features when a lesion, inflammation or organ disorder needs diagnosis.

02

What the test is used for

Diagnosing and classifying tumours, inflammatory disorders, infections and other tissue disease; assessing margins or stage in resections.

03

How the test is performed

Tissue is described, sampled, fixed, processed into paraffin, sectioned, stained and examined by a pathologist. Additional stains or molecular tests may follow.

04

Conditions and diseases considered

Used across cancer, inflammatory, infectious and degenerative disease pathways; the exact application depends on the tissue.

05

Recommended further tests

Immunohistochemistry, special stains, molecular profiling, microbiology, imaging or multidisciplinary review.

Primary public reference

Continue with the official patient guide.

COHSEW has summarised this information for navigation and awareness. Follow the source and your healthcare provider’s current instructions for the complete context.

Biopsy overviewOpen official source

Need professional guidance?

Discuss test appropriateness and results with a qualified clinician.

Return to test portfolio ↗