Histopathology / Biopsy
Histopathology studies a small piece of tissue (a biopsy) under a microscope to help show what a lump or growth is, and whether it is harmless or cancerous. It is used for dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes.
- Sample
- Tissue in formalin
- Quantity
- Tissue
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Type of tissue and cells in the sample
- Whether a growth is harmless (benign) or cancer (malignant)
- Type of tumour and how aggressive it looks (grade)
- Signs of inflammation or infection in the tissue
- Whether abnormal cells reach the cut edges (margins)
- Tissue damage, such as scarring or dead tissue
Benefits of this test
- Gives the vet a clear picture of what a lump or growth is made of.
- Helps tell a harmless growth from a cancer so the next step can be planned.
- Shows whether abnormal cells reach the cut edges of a lump that was removed.
- Works for many tissues, such as skin, mammary (breast) glands, eyelid growths and organ samples.
- Gives a written pathologist's report that can be kept in the animal's records.
Often discussed at these ages:Senior Dog
When your vet may advise it
- A new lump or swelling is found on or under the skin.
- A lump is growing, bleeding or changing in colour or shape.
- A sore or wound does not heal for weeks.
- A lump has been removed by surgery and the vet wants to know what it was.
- A growth on the eye, eyelid or skin of a cow or buffalo needs to be identified.
- A piece of an organ is taken during surgery and needs to be examined.
About this test
Histopathology means studying a piece of tissue under a microscope. The piece is called a biopsy. Your vet removes it from a lump, a skin spot, a wound that does not heal or an organ, and puts it in formalin. Formalin is a preserving liquid that keeps the cells in their natural shape.
At the lab, the tissue is processed, cut into very thin slices, placed on glass slides and stained with dyes. A veterinary pathologist, a vet trained to read cells and tissue, then studies the slides. The pathologist looks at the type of cells, how they are arranged and, when a whole lump has been removed, whether the cut edges are free of abnormal cells.
Vets commonly use histopathology to find out what a growth really is. It can help tell a harmless lump from a cancer, show the type of a tumour, and show inflammation or infection inside tissue. It is used for dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes. Reporting time is confirmed when you book, because tissue needs extra steps before it can be read.
How to prepare
Your vet removes the tissue and puts it straight into a container with plenty of formalin, about ten times the volume of the tissue; follow your vet's advice on packing. Do not freeze the tissue, keep the lid tight, and keep the container away from children and food, because formalin is a harmful chemical. Sample collection is free anywhere in Bhopal; from outside Bhopal, the container can be sent by courier, bus parcel or through your local vet.
Reading the result
The report describes what the pathologist saw in the tissue. Your registered veterinarian explains it together with the animal's signs and history, and may advise treatment or more tests.
Questions about Histopathology / Biopsy
How is a biopsy different from FNAC?
Does a biopsy mean my pet has cancer?
How should the tissue be kept before it reaches the lab?
How long does the biopsy report take?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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Histopathology / Biopsy: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas
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How long a lab report takes depends on the test. Routine blood, urine and stool tests are usually quicker than culture, histopathology and molecular tests, and any time given is an estimate. The lab confirms the reporting time when you book.
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