Pathology Technology Series (China) common mistakes
Pathology Technology Series (China) · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Issuing a final diagnosis from a technical pattern alone.
Pattern recognition does not replace integrated qualified interpretation.
What to do instead
Report technical findings and limitations within the actual professional role.
Assuming penetration means complete fixation.
Reagent entry and completion of preservation reactions are different processes.
What to do instead
Review specimen dimensions, timing and the validated preservation process.
Embedding without checking the requested plane.
A technically smooth block can still hide the relationship needed for diagnosis.
What to do instead
Use the request and specimen orientation to select the useful sectioning plane.
Treating label traceability as separate from technical quality.
A perfect slide from the wrong specimen can create serious diagnostic harm.
What to do instead
Track specimen, cassette, block and slide identity through every transfer.
Changing every cutting variable at once.
The cause of an artifact then becomes difficult to establish.
What to do instead
Investigate likely causes systematically and document relevant adjustments.
Interpreting a negative patient stain despite a failed positive control.
The method has not shown it can demonstrate the target.
What to do instead
Resolve control failure before making the target-absence conclusion.
Treating one lineage-associated marker as universal.
Tumors can lose expected markers or express overlapping patterns.
What to do instead
Integrate a suitable panel, localization, morphology and qualified interpretation.
Using one retrieval programme for every antibody.
Targets and tissues do not have identical preparation requirements.
What to do instead
Use the validated assay-specific conditions and controls.
Rerunning controls repeatedly until one passes.
This can hide an unresolved process failure and expose patients to invalid results.
What to do instead
Investigate, document and resolve the cause under the actual quality plan.
Using a biosafety cabinet as a universal chemical hood.
Cabinet designs do not provide identical volatile-chemical containment.
What to do instead
Use a procedure-specific risk assessment and suitable engineering controls.