Invisible for a few but essential for many: the role of Histotechnologists in the establishment of digital pathology

ABSTRACT

Digital pathology (DP) is indisputably the future for histopathology laboratories. The process of digital implementation requires deep workflow reorganisation which involves an interdisciplinary team. This transformation may have the greatest impact on the Histotechnologist (HTL) profession. Our review of the literature has clearly revealed that the role of HTLs in the establishment of DP is being unnoticed and guidance is limited. This article aims to bring HTLs from behind-the-scenes into the spotlight. Our objective is to provide them guidance and practical recommendations to successfully contribute to the implementation of a new digital workflow. Furthermore, it also intends to contribute for improvement of study programs, ensuring the role of HTL in DP is addressed as part of graduate and post-graduate education. In our review, we report on the differences encountered between workflow schemes and the limitations observed in this process. The authors propose a digital workflow to achieve its limitless potential, focusing on the HTL’s role. This article explores the novel responsibilities of HTLs during specimen gross dissection, embedding, microtomy, staining, digital scanning, and whole slide image quality control. Furthermore, we highlight the benefits and challenges that DP implementation might bring the HTLs career. HTLs have an important role in the digital workflow: the responsibility of achieving the perfect glass slide.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomedical scientists
• pre-analytical phase
• digital pathology
• quality control
• implementation
• digital workflow
• laboratory fully digital

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Contributorship statement

GM, RC, CF have equally contributed to the article. The author GM, RC, CF, SC conceived the idea for the manuscript DM, RG, SC, FS reviewed the final draft of the manuscript and contributed for general improvement.

Disclaimers

The authors state that the views expressed in this article are our own and not an official position of the institutions.