The Pathologist in Patient Care
The pathologist uses diagnostic and screening tests to identify and interpret the changes that characterize different diseases in the cells, tissues, and fluids of the body. Anatomic pathologists analyze the gross and microscopic structural changes caused by disease in tissues and cells removed during surgery or at autopsy. Cytopathology, the examination of individual cells to aid in disease detection, is an important component of modern patient care.
Clinical pathology encompasses chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, coagulation, and blood banking, among other types of laboratory testing. Molecular pathology utilizes newly developed strategies for DNA and RNA hybridization and amplification to aid in many aspects of both clinical and anatomic diagnoses. Collectively, all the pathology specialties contribute to understanding disease and treatment of the patient.
Pathologists participate in day-to-day care of patients by providing and interpreting laboratory information to help solve diagnostic problems and to monitor the effects of therapy. 
New tools are used to increase the precision of diagnoses, e.g., those utilizing monoclonal antibodies, molecular biology, image analysis, and flow cytometry. Because of the expanding volume of new and highly complex tests, clinicians rely on the pathologist for guidance and direction in use of the clinical laboratory and interpretation of test results.
The new field of molecular diagnostics is particularly rewarding, with techniques that permit identification of carriers of genetic 
disease, diagnosis of viral and bacterial infections, monitoring of cancer therapy, DNA fingerprinting for forensic (medico-legal) analysis, and detection of cancer markers that assist in prognosis. For all pathologists, clinical, anatomic, molecular, investigator or researcher, better patient care is the ultimate goal. When unusual or unexpected abnormal results are identified, and particularly when critical or life-threatening alterations are found, the pathologist communicates directly with the patient's physician.