Two lab technicians in white coats and blue gloves are working with modern medical equipment, performing blood analysis in a scientific laboratory, indicating advanced diagnostics and healthcare

Reference labs

We help reference laboratories build confidence throughout the digital pathology workflow, supporting consistent image visualization, streamlined quality assurance, and efficient digital review.

Upscaled with Gigapixel v1.1.2. 3840x1904 => 7680x3808 (2x) Model: Standard V2, denoise: 0.6708400632871593, sharpen: 0.18137107723874463, decompression: 0.23421481110699066

Digital pathology for reference laboratories

Reference laboratories process high volumes of specialized diagnostic tests on behalf of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare networks. To deliver fast, reliable results, they depend on efficient workflows, standardized processes, and consistent quality across large teams and multiple locations. Digital pathology helps reference labs streamline case review, support remote collaboration, and create a foundation for continued growth and innovation while maintaining the high standards their customers expect.

The challenges clinical labs face

Balancing volume & TAT
Consistent quality
Standardizing workflows
Distributed networks
Preparing for growth

Smiling female eye doctor stands confidently in modern clinic. Two male colleagues work with eye exam machine in background. She wears white, lab coat. Healthcare and vision care.

Balancing volume & TAT

Reference laboratories often handle thousands of cases from multiple healthcare providers. As workloads grow, laboratories must maintain rapid turnaround times without compromising diagnostic accuracy or operational efficiency.

Focused female scientist loading a sample rack into an automated machine in a sterile clinical laboratory. Professional researcher working on pathology diagnosis for medical healthcare projects.

Consistent quality

Large teams of pathologists, technicians, and subspecialists may review cases across different sites and workflows. Ensuring consistent image presentation and interpretation is essential for maintaining reproducible diagnostic outcomes and customer trust.

Female scientist using microscope in laboratory for medical research and development

Standardizing workflows

Reference labs rely on highly standardized processes to manage large case volumes efficiently. As pathology workflows become digital, laboratories must ensure that quality assurance remains embedded throughout image acquisition, management, review, and reporting.

Distributed networks

Many reference laboratories operate across multiple locations or provide services to geographically dispersed customers. Pathologists frequently collaborate remotely, requiring dependable access to high-quality images wherever cases are reviewed.

Woman, science and reading in laboratory by computer, review or thinking for solution at pharmaceutical company. Person, pc and innovation for medicine, drugs or research with medical journal on web.

Preparing for growth

As demand for pathology services increases, reference laboratories are investing in digital workflows, image analysis, and AI technologies to improve efficiency and scalability. These initiatives require a reliable digital pathology infrastructure that can support future innovation.

How Barco can support your reference lab

Barco helps reference laboratories build confidence throughout the digital pathology workflow. Our solutions support consistent image visualization, streamlined quality assurance, and efficient digital review across high-volume environments. By helping laboratories maintain quality and standardization at scale, Barco enables pathology teams to work efficiently while supporting continued growth and innovation.

Our products for reference labs

Écrans d'anatomopathologie

Découvrez un tout nouvel écran ultra-haute définition de qualité médicale conçu exclusivement pour la pathologie numérique.

Science portrait, computer and senior pathologist, DPQA dashboard, lab research pathology scan quality control and preselection. Laboratory, medicine study and happy woman. Assistant.

main_product

SlideRightQA

A PACS manager maintaining diagnostic displays

main_product

QAWeb Enterprise

Trends in digital pathology

^{Visualization technology in whole slide imaging}

Discover our webinar series!

Do you want to learn what visualization of slides in digital pathology entails? Watch our webinars and learn more about the technology behind whole slide imaging.