Western Michigan Pathology Associates

What Does a Pathologist Do?
If your doctor orders testing of a specimen of your blood, urine, or other tissue, the specimen will be sent to the medical laboratory for analysis. The laboratory is directed by a pathologist, a physician who specializes in laboratory medicine. The pathologist is responsible for assuring that the results of all laboratory tests are clinically reliable and are reported to the doctor in a timely manner. It is important for you to understand what pathologists do for patients in the laboratory. Sometimes, pathologists review tissue under a microscope to determine whether or not the tissue indicates the presence of disease and, if so, what specific kind of disease. They will report their findings to the ordering doctor.

In addition, when blood, urine, stool, or similar material is sent to the laboratory, a pathologist may not have to review the specific specimen. Rather, in these situations, pathologists are responsible for the quality assurance and quality control. They provide medical supervision of the technicians and technologists who work in the laboratory. They must be available to address problems that arise in the laboratory regarding specific results. Moreover, they must be available to answer any questions that your doctor might have about your laboratory results. As a physician, the pathologist assists your doctor in ordering appropriate follow-up tests.

Would You Like More Information on Pathology?
You can find more information on pathology at the College of American Pathologists website: www.cap.org. The College of American Pathologists sponsored website www.mybiopsy.org is helpful in understanding pathology and disease treatment. In addition, you may also find this website helpful: www.myhealthtestreminder.org.