Ibex digital pathology: what should you know?

A tissue specimen is prepared on a glass slide and scanned into a high-resolution digital image. Pathologists can review that image on a screen, mark areas of interest, compare findings, and share the case with colleagues. Software may highlight patterns or help organise information, but it does not replace the pathologist’s interpretation of the tissue alongside the patient’s symptoms, scans, and medical history.

Depending on the service and specimen, an algorithm may assist with tasks such as finding suspicious regions or supporting classification. A flagged area is a prompt for review, not a diagnosis by itself. The report should explain the findings and how they relate to the clinical question.

Ask whether your specimen was reviewed digitally, by whom, and whether a specialist pathologist confirmed the result. Request an explanation of the diagnosis, grade, margins, biomarkers, or other terms that affect treatment. If the result is unexpected or does not fit your scans and examination, ask whether the slides or tissue can be reviewed by another specialist.

Keep copies of the pathology report and related imaging details. If a second opinion is arranged, the reviewing team may need the original slides, a digital file, or prepared tissue sections, depending on local practice.

Contact your clinical team promptly if a pathology result is unclear, if the report says additional testing is needed, or if treatment has been recommended without an explanation you understand. Seek urgent care for new severe symptoms such as breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening pain; the pathology platform itself does not manage emergencies.

Ask what the software contributed, what the pathologist concluded, whether more stains or molecular tests are needed, and whether the result changes the treatment plan. You can also ask how your slides would be transferred if you want an independent pathology review.