Original articles

Vol. 118: Issue 1 - February 2026

Automated paraffin embedding of tissue samples significantly reduces overall workflow time in routine pathology practice.

Automated embedding saves time

Authors

Alessandro Gambella , Laura Zito , Cristina Bottaro , Michele Paudice , Giulia Tacchino , Viviana Accorrà , Claudio Piccione , Martina Terrile , Anna Silvana Bevere , Barbara Massa , Silvia Bozzano , Federica Grillo , Luca Mastracci

Key words: Automated embedding, Workflow optimization, Histopathology automation
DOI: 10.32074/1591-951X-1773
Publication Date: 2026-03-31

Abstract

Objective: Automated paraffin embedding (AE) offers a solution to the operator-dependent variability and time demands manual embedding (ME), but comparative data are limited.

Methods: We quantitatively assessed AE versus ME using 186 endoscopic biopsies, 106 needle biopsies, and 62 transurethral resections, recording the time (seconds, s) required for preparation, embedding, trimming, and sectioning.

Results: AE substantially reduced embedding time (5s for all sample types) compared with ME (43 s for endoscopic biopsies, 66.5 s for needle biopsies, and 105 s for transurethral samples), and it allowed laboratory technicians to perform other tasks concurrently. AE also shortened total time: 150.2s (AE) vs. 250.4s (ME) for endoscopic biopsies, 176.9s (AE) vs. 324.2s (ME) for needle biopsies, and 149.5s (AE) vs. 335s (ME) for transurethral resections.

Conclusions: These real-world data provide quantitative evidence of AE-related time savings in daily routine activity, supporting its role in workflow automation and standardization in pathology units.

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Authors

Alessandro Gambella - Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7826-002X

Laura Zito - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy

Cristina Bottaro - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Michele Paudice - 1 Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 2 IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Giulia Tacchino - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Viviana Accorrà - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Claudio Piccione - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Martina Terrile - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Anna Silvana Bevere - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Barbara Massa - IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Silvia Bozzano - 1 Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 2 IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Federica Grillo - 1 Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 2 IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Luca Mastracci - 1 Pathology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 2 IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2026 Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citopatologia Diagnostica, Divisione Italiana della International Academy of Pathology

How to Cite
Gambella, A., Zito, L., Bottaro, C., Paudice, M., Tacchino, G., Accorrà, V., Piccione, C., Terrile, M., Bevere, A. S., Massa, B., Bozzano, S., Grillo, F., & Mastracci, L. (2026). Automated paraffin embedding of tissue samples significantly reduces overall workflow time in routine pathology practice.: Automated embedding saves time. Pathologica - Journal of the Italian Society of Anatomic Pathology and Diagnostic Cytopathology, 118(1). https://doi.org/10.32074/1591-951X-1773
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