American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

Where is biopsy tissue typically sent for analysis?

1. Anatomical pathology

2. Laboratory medicine

3. Cytology lab

4. Histology department

The correct answer is: Anatomical pathology

Biopsy tissue is typically sent to anatomical pathology for analysis because this department specializes in the examination of tissue samples to identify diseases, such as cancer. Anatomical pathology involves the macroscopic and microscopic assessment of organs and tissues to diagnose conditions and evaluate disease processes. This ensures that pathologists can accurately interpret tissue structures, cellular arrangements, and any abnormalities present in the biopsy samples, leading to informed diagnoses and treatment plans for patients. While the histology department plays a crucial role in preparing and processing the biopsy samples for microscopic examination, the primary analysis of the tissue to determine its nature—whether malignant or benign—occurs within the realm of anatomical pathology. The laboratory medicine option generally refers to the overall laboratory services, which might include various types of testing but is less specific than anatomical pathology. Cytology labs are typically focused on the evaluation of cells rather than entire tissue specimens, making them less relevant for biopsy analysis.