Complex histopathology cases and associated fees

Emily Brouwer

Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.

AHL Newsletter 2025;29(1):4.

The fee structure for histopathology cases at the Animal Health Laboratory is divided into food animal cases and companion animal/other species cases.

Food animal histopathology is a flat fee, but there are additional fees for cases where there are excessive tissues or extra slides prepared. For cases where there are tissues requiring pathologist examination, trimming, or sampling, an additional fee for pathologist time will apply. Food animal cases where  pathologist time is routinely applied includes, but is not limited to, subsampling tissues such as legs or plucks. Cases where tissues need additional processing or demineralization, such as bone or hoof, will incur additional charges for decalcification or hoof softening, respectively.

Non-food animal histopathology cases are separated into categories of histcm1, histcm2, or histcm3 based on the number of tissues provided and/or the overall size of the tissues. Larger tissues or complex cases such as amputations, intestinal resections, splenectomies, large tumor resections, mammary chains, brains, etc. are automatically included in the histcm3 level. These criteria are listed on the back of the histology submission form, with examples. Similar to their food animal counterparts, those cases where pathologists are required to examine and sample the tissues are subject to additional fees for pathologist’s time. Tissues requiring additional processing, such as demineralization or nail softening will also incur additional fees. Tumor margin assessment is available upon request for specimens larger than 2 cm, and this fee applies per tumor submitted.

If there is ever any confusion surrounding which tests to choose, or how to appropriately quote histopathology fees for your client, an avian or mammalian pathologist is available to help you. Please do not hesitate to contact us.