If you’ve ever had a blood test, swab or biopsy, you’ve received services from a pathologist. Pathology is the branch of medicine that uncovers the causes and processes of disease. It does this by looking at changes in the tissues of the body, blood and other body fluids. Some of these changes show the causes of disease, while others show how severe a condition is and can be used to monitor the progress of treatments.

Pathology services aren’t often seen in the healthcare system, but teams work behind-the-scenes to collect, analyse and process Australians’ medical tests and diagnose disease. Pathology testing helps doctors make accurate decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of their patients, which helps keep people healthier for longer and avoid unnecessary delays in accessing the best possible treatment for their condition. By reducing the impact of preventable and treatable diseases in the community, the pathology sector is helping to create a healthier future for all Australians.

You can read more about pathology on our website.