Testing Times for Immunohistochemistry

Why IHC throughput and workflow have become pathology’s most urgent operational imperative

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Rising cancer incidence, expanding biomarker menus, and staffing shortages are increasing IHC workload and straining pathology laboratories.
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David Newell identifies order intake, instrument loading, and unloading as key IHC workflow failure points.
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Batch-based ordering, batching habits, and inconsistent instrument use can delay starts and create avoidable instrument idle time.
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Newell reports that extending daily IHC staining-area coverage from 8 to 9.5 hours and changing workflows increased capacity from 120 to 180 slides per day without new equipment.
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The article recommends end-to-end workflow review and cross-functional collaboration to identify bottlenecks and plan for future laboratory needs.

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