A Lab Director's Guide to Going Digital: PACS, WSI and What You Actually Need

A digital pathology lab needs image capture, storage, a viewer and a reliable link to its case records. Plan that workflow before buying a scanner, then build it in stages.

What does a digital lab need?

The goal is simple: capture specimen and slide images, store them securely, and let pathologists open the right images from the right case.

1. Image capture

Whole-slide imaging (WSI) turns glass slides into high-resolution images that pathologists can examine on screen. Choose a scanner around your daily volume, specimen types and image quality requirements.

Macro photography records specimens at the grossing bench, before processing. It is a smaller first step that supports remote review and tests your image workflow before you add large slide files.

2. Image storage: PACS

A Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) stores medical images and retrieves them by patient or case. It can run on your own servers or be hosted.

DICOM is a standard for medical images. Support for it makes changing scanners or viewers easier, but test compatibility with your actual equipment.

3. A viewer

The viewer is where pathologists examine images. Test smooth slide navigation, annotations, measurements and secure remote access using your own cases. A scanner's bundled viewer may be enough; check whether it also supports your other scanners.

4. Connection to the laboratory system

Your Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) holds case details and reports; the PACS holds images. Connecting them lets a pathologist open the right images directly from a case, without retyping identifiers.

5. Labels and sample tracking

Barcode labels link specimens, cassettes, blocks and slides to their case. Tracking records where each item is in the workflow. Check that labels and printers withstand your lab's chemicals and processing steps.

What order should you build it in?

Check identification and tracking. Resolve gaps in barcode labelling first.
Plan LIMS integration. Agree how cases, images and reports connect before choosing imaging hardware.
Pilot macro capture, PACS and a viewer together. Test the full route from barcode to remote review with smaller image files.
Add WSI scanners. Size storage and network capacity for the slide volume, then test the complete workflow.

For primary diagnosis, also establish the viewer's intended use, regulatory requirements and your lab's validation plan before clinical use.

What should you budget?

These are indicative project ranges in euros, not quotes. Capacity, redundancy and existing equipment make a large difference.

Label printing and tracking: low five figures.
Macro imaging, installed and integrated: low-to-mid five figures.
PACS and storage: mid-five to low-six figures.
WSI scanner: mid-five to low-six figures per scanner.
Viewer and LIMS integration: five figures, mostly labour.

A small lab's complete setup can reach low six figures; multiple scanners and redundant storage cost more. Include ongoing support, backups, storage growth and any software licences in the comparison.

What should you ask vendors?

Which image formats and interfaces are supported? How will DICOM images and HL7/FHIR clinical data connect to our existing systems?
Where will patient data be stored, and who controls access?
Can we replace a scanner or viewer and export our images?
What is the viewer's intended use and CE status, and what validation is needed?
Who handles failures, including outside business hours?
Can we see a similar setup working in another lab?

How Medired helps

We design, install and maintain digital pathology systems for EU labs, from sample tracking to scanners and remote viewing. We use open standards and choose equipment around your needs. The engineer who designs your system also supports it.